Portsmouth

1 January 1970

Portsmouth slideshow

Former Portsmouth owner Sulaiman Al Fahim jailed for stealing £5m from his wife to buy club

The disastrous past ownership saga at Portsmouth took another extraordinary twist when it was reported on Thursday that Sulaiman Al Fahim, the businessman who owned the club for six weeks in the Premier League in 2009, stole £5 million from his wife to fund the purchase. Al Fahim was previously also the front-man for the Abu Dhabi United Group’s takeover of Manchester City in 2007, although he was almost immediately sidelined from any involvement at Eastlands and later re-emerged in English football at Portsmouth. According to The National, Al Fahim has now been convicted of forgery by the Dubai Criminal Court and sentenced to five years in prison. The report said that his wife had opened an account in 2009 with a fixed deposit and, when she checked for any profits in 2011, discovered that the money had been transferred to a UK Law firm to fund the Portsmouth deal. At the time of becoming Portsmouth owner, Al Fahim had talked optimistically of building a new stadium by 2015 and becoming a top-eight Premier League club. As it was, Portsmouth had a series of other owners and ultimately fell into administration, suffered three relegations and were ultimately taken over by the Portsmouth Supporters’ Trust. A spokesman for the trust said that Thursday's report raised questions of the Premier League’s ownership rules, which were tightened up following the Portsmouth experience.

Former Portsmouth owner Sulaiman Al Fahim jailed for stealing £5m from his wife to buy club

Former Portsmouth owner Sulaiman Al Fahim jailed for stealing £5m from his wife to buy club

Brit Ben Ainslie not resting in pursuit of America's Cup

FILE - In this Friday, July 24, 2015, file photo, skipper Sir Ben Ainslie, of LandRover Bar Team Great Britain, gives interviews during the practice day of racing in the Americas Cup World Series qualifying events off Portsmouth, England. Ainslie is not taking any time off from his pursuit of sailing's greatest prize. The British sailing star is back in San Diego for the second time in four months, this time with top crew members to stay fresh in the long, uncertain buildup toward the 2021 America's Cup. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File)

Arsene Wenger stokes north London derby fire by claiming English players are now the 'masters' of diving

Arsene Wenger has suggested that English players have become the “masters” of diving after both Harry Kane and Dele Alli were accused of simulation during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Specific names were not mentioned by Wenger but, ahead of Saturday's north London derby, Wenger was asked directly about Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that “football is about trying to trick your opponent”. Pochettino also said that English football had become “so sensitive” about what he called “minimal details” after Alli was booked for a third time in his career for diving. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also accused Kane of “diving clearly”, even though the Tottenham striker was adamant that there had been contact for his penalty. “I am convinced that he [Pochettino] wanted to say that tricking your opponent is to say that you have to be clever,” said Wenger. “How far was it an apology for diving? I’m not sure at all. I don’t think he would. In my personal case? No. We have to get the diving out of the game. I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.” Wenger accused England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling of diving earlier this season but, ahead of such a crucial derby match, his comments are likely to go down badly with Spurs fans. They will certainly also ensure an added spotlight on the decision of referee Anthony Taylor. Wenger says he has never encouraged his players to dive Credit: PA Arsenal have themselves faced major 'diving' controversies during Wenger’s tenure, notably when Robert Pires went down against Portsmouth to help salvage a 1-1 draw in what became the ‘Invincible’ 2003-04 season. Eduardo was charged by Uefa for simulation against Celtic in the 2009 Champions League, although it was ultimately decided that there was insufficient evidence that he had deceived the referee. Pochettino admitted that Alli deserved his yellow card on Sunday but Kane stressed that he “felt contact” and so “went down” following a challenge by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. “I'm not going to jump out of the way because it's football," said Kane. Kane was adamant he felt contact from Loris Karius before he went down Credit: Getty images Pochettino claimed that situations like the Alli incident had become overanalysed and at his press conference on Thursday again pointed out that Michael Owen had dived when he famously challenged him in the 1998 World Cup for Argentina. “I am honest always and I gave you what I feel,” said Pochettino. “In 1998, I did not touch Michael Owen and he dived. Today you are so sensitive about details and sometimes it's difficult for me because, when you are honest you try to explain some things, and my language is not English. It's difficult to be right in my words and to use the right words.” Michael Owen goes down in the penalty area under the challenge from Mauricio Pochettino (4) at the Sapporo Dome in June 2002 Credit: REUTERS/Ruben Sprich Wenger was adamant that he has never told one of his players to dive but he did hint at a grey area when only limited contact has been made. “I don’t encourage them to dive at all,” he said. “Sometimes you want your players to be intelligent, they have played a little bit with the rules and they make more of it on the penalty case. Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit the rules. Where is it and how far can you go? That is down to the referees and I think that, when you watch a game live, it is very difficult at 100 per cent pace to distinguish whether it is a dive or not. “I think they had a good rule when I arrived here in England. When the striker pushes the ball away from the goal, they didn’t give penalties because the only resource the striker has after is to look for a penalty. The striker leaves a leg as long as he can to make sure that the goalkeeper touches him. But that’s not really a penalty.” Wenger will assess goalkeeper Petr Cech's fitness on Friday Credit: PA Wenger also confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech is yet to train following the calf injury he sustained against Everton but stressed that he would have complete confidence in starting David Ospina. Wenger must also decide whether to retain the attacking 4-2-3-1 formation that helped Arsenal overwhelm Everton but may leave his team defensively vulnerable against Tottenham. Dominating possession, said Wenger, would be the best way to nullify Kane. “The best way to defend is for us to have the ball and to take the game to them, and after - when we don’t have the ball - to defend as a team,” said Wenger. “He has high numbers. What you want is to keep him quiet and our strikers, who are top-class in Europe as well, to express their talent.”

Arsene Wenger stokes north London derby fire by claiming English players are now the 'masters' of diving

Arsene Wenger has suggested that English players have become the “masters” of diving after both Harry Kane and Dele Alli were accused of simulation during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Specific names were not mentioned by Wenger but, ahead of Saturday's north London derby, Wenger was asked directly about Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that “football is about trying to trick your opponent”. Pochettino also said that English football had become “so sensitive” about what he called “minimal details” after Alli was booked for a third time in his career for diving. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also accused Kane of “diving clearly”, even though the Tottenham striker was adamant that there had been contact for his penalty. “I am convinced that he [Pochettino] wanted to say that tricking your opponent is to say that you have to be clever,” said Wenger. “How far was it an apology for diving? I’m not sure at all. I don’t think he would. In my personal case? No. We have to get the diving out of the game. I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.” Wenger accused England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling of diving earlier this season but, ahead of such a crucial derby match, his comments are likely to go down badly with Spurs fans. They will certainly also ensure an added spotlight on the decision of referee Anthony Taylor. Wenger says he has never encouraged his players to dive Credit: PA Arsenal have themselves faced major 'diving' controversies during Wenger’s tenure, notably when Robert Pires went down against Portsmouth to help salvage a 1-1 draw in what became the ‘Invincible’ 2003-04 season. Eduardo was charged by Uefa for simulation against Celtic in the 2009 Champions League, although it was ultimately decided that there was insufficient evidence that he had deceived the referee. Pochettino admitted that Alli deserved his yellow card on Sunday but Kane stressed that he “felt contact” and so “went down” following a challenge by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. “I'm not going to jump out of the way because it's football," said Kane. Kane was adamant he felt contact from Loris Karius before he went down Credit: Getty images Pochettino claimed that situations like the Alli incident had become overanalysed and at his press conference on Thursday again pointed out that Michael Owen had dived when he famously challenged him in the 1998 World Cup for Argentina. “I am honest always and I gave you what I feel,” said Pochettino. “In 1998, I did not touch Michael Owen and he dived. Today you are so sensitive about details and sometimes it's difficult for me because, when you are honest you try to explain some things, and my language is not English. It's difficult to be right in my words and to use the right words.” Michael Owen goes down in the penalty area under the challenge from Mauricio Pochettino (4) at the Sapporo Dome in June 2002 Credit: REUTERS/Ruben Sprich Wenger was adamant that he has never told one of his players to dive but he did hint at a grey area when only limited contact has been made. “I don’t encourage them to dive at all,” he said. “Sometimes you want your players to be intelligent, they have played a little bit with the rules and they make more of it on the penalty case. Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit the rules. Where is it and how far can you go? That is down to the referees and I think that, when you watch a game live, it is very difficult at 100 per cent pace to distinguish whether it is a dive or not. “I think they had a good rule when I arrived here in England. When the striker pushes the ball away from the goal, they didn’t give penalties because the only resource the striker has after is to look for a penalty. The striker leaves a leg as long as he can to make sure that the goalkeeper touches him. But that’s not really a penalty.” Wenger will assess goalkeeper Petr Cech's fitness on Friday Credit: PA Wenger also confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech is yet to train following the calf injury he sustained against Everton but stressed that he would have complete confidence in starting David Ospina. Wenger must also decide whether to retain the attacking 4-2-3-1 formation that helped Arsenal overwhelm Everton but may leave his team defensively vulnerable against Tottenham. Dominating possession, said Wenger, would be the best way to nullify Kane. “The best way to defend is for us to have the ball and to take the game to them, and after - when we don’t have the ball - to defend as a team,” said Wenger. “He has high numbers. What you want is to keep him quiet and our strikers, who are top-class in Europe as well, to express their talent.”

Arsene Wenger stokes north London derby fire by claiming English players are now the 'masters' of diving

Arsene Wenger has suggested that English players have become the “masters” of diving after both Harry Kane and Dele Alli were accused of simulation during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Specific names were not mentioned by Wenger but, ahead of Saturday's north London derby, Wenger was asked directly about Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that “football is about trying to trick your opponent”. Pochettino also said that English football had become “so sensitive” about what he called “minimal details” after Alli was booked for a third time in his career for diving. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also accused Kane of “diving clearly”, even though the Tottenham striker was adamant that there had been contact for his penalty. “I am convinced that he [Pochettino] wanted to say that tricking your opponent is to say that you have to be clever,” said Wenger. “How far was it an apology for diving? I’m not sure at all. I don’t think he would. In my personal case? No. We have to get the diving out of the game. I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.” Wenger accused England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling of diving earlier this season but, ahead of such a crucial derby match, his comments are likely to go down badly with Spurs fans. They will certainly also ensure an added spotlight on the decision of referee Anthony Taylor. Wenger says he has never encouraged his players to dive Credit: PA Arsenal have themselves faced major 'diving' controversies during Wenger’s tenure, notably when Robert Pires went down against Portsmouth to help salvage a 1-1 draw in what became the ‘Invincible’ 2003-04 season. Eduardo was charged by Uefa for simulation against Celtic in the 2009 Champions League, although it was ultimately decided that there was insufficient evidence that he had deceived the referee. Pochettino admitted that Alli deserved his yellow card on Sunday but Kane stressed that he “felt contact” and so “went down” following a challenge by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. “I'm not going to jump out of the way because it's football," said Kane. Kane was adamant he felt contact from Loris Karius before he went down Credit: Getty images Pochettino claimed that situations like the Alli incident had become overanalysed and at his press conference on Thursday again pointed out that Michael Owen had dived when he famously challenged him in the 1998 World Cup for Argentina. “I am honest always and I gave you what I feel,” said Pochettino. “In 1998, I did not touch Michael Owen and he dived. Today you are so sensitive about details and sometimes it's difficult for me because, when you are honest you try to explain some things, and my language is not English. It's difficult to be right in my words and to use the right words.” Michael Owen goes down in the penalty area under the challenge from Mauricio Pochettino (4) at the Sapporo Dome in June 2002 Credit: REUTERS/Ruben Sprich Wenger was adamant that he has never told one of his players to dive but he did hint at a grey area when only limited contact has been made. “I don’t encourage them to dive at all,” he said. “Sometimes you want your players to be intelligent, they have played a little bit with the rules and they make more of it on the penalty case. Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit the rules. Where is it and how far can you go? That is down to the referees and I think that, when you watch a game live, it is very difficult at 100 per cent pace to distinguish whether it is a dive or not. “I think they had a good rule when I arrived here in England. When the striker pushes the ball away from the goal, they didn’t give penalties because the only resource the striker has after is to look for a penalty. The striker leaves a leg as long as he can to make sure that the goalkeeper touches him. But that’s not really a penalty.” Wenger will assess goalkeeper Petr Cech's fitness on Friday Credit: PA Wenger also confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech is yet to train following the calf injury he sustained against Everton but stressed that he would have complete confidence in starting David Ospina. Wenger must also decide whether to retain the attacking 4-2-3-1 formation that helped Arsenal overwhelm Everton but may leave his team defensively vulnerable against Tottenham. Dominating possession, said Wenger, would be the best way to nullify Kane. “The best way to defend is for us to have the ball and to take the game to them, and after - when we don’t have the ball - to defend as a team,” said Wenger. “He has high numbers. What you want is to keep him quiet and our strikers, who are top-class in Europe as well, to express their talent.”

Arsene Wenger stokes north London derby fire by claiming English players are now the 'masters' of diving

Arsene Wenger has suggested that English players have become the “masters” of diving after both Harry Kane and Dele Alli were accused of simulation during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Specific names were not mentioned by Wenger but, ahead of Saturday's north London derby, Wenger was asked directly about Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that “football is about trying to trick your opponent”. Pochettino also said that English football had become “so sensitive” about what he called “minimal details” after Alli was booked for a third time in his career for diving. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also accused Kane of “diving clearly”, even though the Tottenham striker was adamant that there had been contact for his penalty. “I am convinced that he [Pochettino] wanted to say that tricking your opponent is to say that you have to be clever,” said Wenger. “How far was it an apology for diving? I’m not sure at all. I don’t think he would. In my personal case? No. We have to get the diving out of the game. I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.” Wenger accused England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling of diving earlier this season but, ahead of such a crucial derby match, his comments are likely to go down badly with Spurs fans. They will certainly also ensure an added spotlight on the decision of referee Anthony Taylor. Wenger says he has never encouraged his players to dive Credit: PA Arsenal have themselves faced major 'diving' controversies during Wenger’s tenure, notably when Robert Pires went down against Portsmouth to help salvage a 1-1 draw in what became the ‘Invincible’ 2003-04 season. Eduardo was charged by Uefa for simulation against Celtic in the 2009 Champions League, although it was ultimately decided that there was insufficient evidence that he had deceived the referee. Pochettino admitted that Alli deserved his yellow card on Sunday but Kane stressed that he “felt contact” and so “went down” following a challenge by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. “I'm not going to jump out of the way because it's football," said Kane. Kane was adamant he felt contact from Loris Karius before he went down Credit: Getty images Pochettino claimed that situations like the Alli incident had become overanalysed and at his press conference on Thursday again pointed out that Michael Owen had dived when he famously challenged him in the 1998 World Cup for Argentina. “I am honest always and I gave you what I feel,” said Pochettino. “In 1998, I did not touch Michael Owen and he dived. Today you are so sensitive about details and sometimes it's difficult for me because, when you are honest you try to explain some things, and my language is not English. It's difficult to be right in my words and to use the right words.” Michael Owen goes down in the penalty area under the challenge from Mauricio Pochettino (4) at the Sapporo Dome in June 2002 Credit: REUTERS/Ruben Sprich Wenger was adamant that he has never told one of his players to dive but he did hint at a grey area when only limited contact has been made. “I don’t encourage them to dive at all,” he said. “Sometimes you want your players to be intelligent, they have played a little bit with the rules and they make more of it on the penalty case. Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit the rules. Where is it and how far can you go? That is down to the referees and I think that, when you watch a game live, it is very difficult at 100 per cent pace to distinguish whether it is a dive or not. “I think they had a good rule when I arrived here in England. When the striker pushes the ball away from the goal, they didn’t give penalties because the only resource the striker has after is to look for a penalty. The striker leaves a leg as long as he can to make sure that the goalkeeper touches him. But that’s not really a penalty.” Wenger will assess goalkeeper Petr Cech's fitness on Friday Credit: PA Wenger also confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech is yet to train following the calf injury he sustained against Everton but stressed that he would have complete confidence in starting David Ospina. Wenger must also decide whether to retain the attacking 4-2-3-1 formation that helped Arsenal overwhelm Everton but may leave his team defensively vulnerable against Tottenham. Dominating possession, said Wenger, would be the best way to nullify Kane. “The best way to defend is for us to have the ball and to take the game to them, and after - when we don’t have the ball - to defend as a team,” said Wenger. “He has high numbers. What you want is to keep him quiet and our strikers, who are top-class in Europe as well, to express their talent.”

Arsene Wenger stokes north London derby fire by claiming English players are now the 'masters' of diving

Arsene Wenger has suggested that English players have become the “masters” of diving after both Harry Kane and Dele Alli were accused of simulation during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Specific names were not mentioned by Wenger but, ahead of Saturday's north London derby, Wenger was asked directly about Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that “football is about trying to trick your opponent”. Pochettino also said that English football had become “so sensitive” about what he called “minimal details” after Alli was booked for a third time in his career for diving. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also accused Kane of “diving clearly”, even though the Tottenham striker was adamant that there had been contact for his penalty. “I am convinced that he [Pochettino] wanted to say that tricking your opponent is to say that you have to be clever,” said Wenger. “How far was it an apology for diving? I’m not sure at all. I don’t think he would. In my personal case? No. We have to get the diving out of the game. I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.” Wenger accused England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling of diving earlier this season but, ahead of such a crucial derby match, his comments are likely to go down badly with Spurs fans. They will certainly also ensure an added spotlight on the decision of referee Anthony Taylor. Wenger says he has never encouraged his players to dive Credit: PA Arsenal have themselves faced major 'diving' controversies during Wenger’s tenure, notably when Robert Pires went down against Portsmouth to help salvage a 1-1 draw in what became the ‘Invincible’ 2003-04 season. Eduardo was charged by Uefa for simulation against Celtic in the 2009 Champions League, although it was ultimately decided that there was insufficient evidence that he had deceived the referee. Pochettino admitted that Alli deserved his yellow card on Sunday but Kane stressed that he “felt contact” and so “went down” following a challenge by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. “I'm not going to jump out of the way because it's football," said Kane. Kane was adamant he felt contact from Loris Karius before he went down Credit: Getty images Pochettino claimed that situations like the Alli incident had become overanalysed and at his press conference on Thursday again pointed out that Michael Owen had dived when he famously challenged him in the 1998 World Cup for Argentina. “I am honest always and I gave you what I feel,” said Pochettino. “In 1998, I did not touch Michael Owen and he dived. Today you are so sensitive about details and sometimes it's difficult for me because, when you are honest you try to explain some things, and my language is not English. It's difficult to be right in my words and to use the right words.” Michael Owen goes down in the penalty area under the challenge from Mauricio Pochettino (4) at the Sapporo Dome in June 2002 Credit: REUTERS/Ruben Sprich Wenger was adamant that he has never told one of his players to dive but he did hint at a grey area when only limited contact has been made. “I don’t encourage them to dive at all,” he said. “Sometimes you want your players to be intelligent, they have played a little bit with the rules and they make more of it on the penalty case. Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit the rules. Where is it and how far can you go? That is down to the referees and I think that, when you watch a game live, it is very difficult at 100 per cent pace to distinguish whether it is a dive or not. “I think they had a good rule when I arrived here in England. When the striker pushes the ball away from the goal, they didn’t give penalties because the only resource the striker has after is to look for a penalty. The striker leaves a leg as long as he can to make sure that the goalkeeper touches him. But that’s not really a penalty.” Wenger will assess goalkeeper Petr Cech's fitness on Friday Credit: PA Wenger also confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech is yet to train following the calf injury he sustained against Everton but stressed that he would have complete confidence in starting David Ospina. Wenger must also decide whether to retain the attacking 4-2-3-1 formation that helped Arsenal overwhelm Everton but may leave his team defensively vulnerable against Tottenham. Dominating possession, said Wenger, would be the best way to nullify Kane. “The best way to defend is for us to have the ball and to take the game to them, and after - when we don’t have the ball - to defend as a team,” said Wenger. “He has high numbers. What you want is to keep him quiet and our strikers, who are top-class in Europe as well, to express their talent.”

Arsene Wenger stokes north London derby fire by claiming English players are now the 'masters' of diving

Arsene Wenger has suggested that English players have become the “masters” of diving after both Harry Kane and Dele Alli were accused of simulation during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Specific names were not mentioned by Wenger but, ahead of Saturday's north London derby, Wenger was asked directly about Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that “football is about trying to trick your opponent”. Pochettino also said that English football had become “so sensitive” about what he called “minimal details” after Alli was booked for a third time in his career for diving. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also accused Kane of “diving clearly”, even though the Tottenham striker was adamant that there had been contact for his penalty. “I am convinced that he [Pochettino] wanted to say that tricking your opponent is to say that you have to be clever,” said Wenger. “How far was it an apology for diving? I’m not sure at all. I don’t think he would. In my personal case? No. We have to get the diving out of the game. I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.” Wenger accused England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling of diving earlier this season but, ahead of such a crucial derby match, his comments are likely to go down badly with Spurs fans. They will certainly also ensure an added spotlight on the decision of referee Anthony Taylor. Wenger says he has never encouraged his players to dive Credit: PA Arsenal have themselves faced major 'diving' controversies during Wenger’s tenure, notably when Robert Pires went down against Portsmouth to help salvage a 1-1 draw in what became the ‘Invincible’ 2003-04 season. Eduardo was charged by Uefa for simulation against Celtic in the 2009 Champions League, although it was ultimately decided that there was insufficient evidence that he had deceived the referee. Pochettino admitted that Alli deserved his yellow card on Sunday but Kane stressed that he “felt contact” and so “went down” following a challenge by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. “I'm not going to jump out of the way because it's football," said Kane. Pochettino claimed that situations like the Alli incident had become overanalysed and at his press conference on Thursday again pointed out that Michael Owen had dived when he famously challenged him in the 1998 World Cup for Argentina. Kane was adamant he felt contact from Loris Karius before he went down Credit: Getty images “I am honest always and I gave you what I feel,” said Pochettino. “In 1998, I did not touch Michael Owen and he dived. Today you are so sensitive about details and sometimes it's difficult for me because, when you are honest you try to explain some things, and my language is not English. It's difficult to be right in my words and to use the right words.” Wenger was adamant that he has never told one of his players to dive but he did hint at a grey area when only limited contact has been made. “I don’t encourage them to dive at all,” he said. “Sometimes you want your players to be intelligent, they have played a little bit with the rules and they make more of it on the penalty case. Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit the rules. Where is it and how far can you go? That is down to the referees and I think that, when you watch a game live, it is very difficult at 100 per cent pace to distinguish whether it is a dive or not. “I think they had a good rule when I arrived here in England. When the striker pushes the ball away from the goal, they didn’t give penalties because the only resource the striker has after is to look for a penalty. The striker leaves a leg as long as he can to make sure that the goalkeeper touches him. But that’s not really a penalty.” Wenger assess Petr Cech's fitness on Friday Credit: PA Wenger also confirmed that goalkeeper Petr Cech is yet to train following the calf injury he sustained against Everton but stressed that he would have complete confidence in starting David Ospina. Wenger must also decide whether to retain the attacking 4-2-3-1 formation that helped Arsenal overwhelm Everton but may leave his team defensively vulnerable against Tottenham. Dominating possession, said Wenger, would be the best way to nullify Kane. “The best way to defend is for us to have the ball and to take the game to them, and after - when we don’t have the ball - to defend as a team,” said Wenger. “He has high numbers. What you want is to keep him quiet and our strikers, who are top-class in Europe as well, to express their talent.”

'Quiet' Manchester United fans to press their case for safe standing

Manchester United will come under pressure to introduce safe standing areas when executives meet supporters this month to discuss Jose Mourinho’s complaints about the atmosphere at Old Trafford. Mourinho’s comments have been placed on the agenda at the next fans’ forum, which is routinely attended by senior figures at the club, including managing director Richard Arnold. United’s manager complained after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town that the home crowd had been “quiet”, as well as drawing unfavourable comparisons with the atmosphere at Portsmouth, whose ground boasts barely a quarter of the capacity of Old Trafford. That prompted a response from the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, which pinned most of the blame on the lack of “supporter ownership and engagement” under the Glazer regime. It also revealed it had recently met with directors to discuss changes that could improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford, including the introduction of safe standing, which would require Government approval. It said in a statement: “The decline in atmosphere is by no means limited to Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho wants more of an atmosphere at Old Trafford Credit: AP “It’s an issue affecting clubs throughout the country. And it’s certainly not an issue specific to Manchester United supporters - our away support is widely acknowledged, by fair-minded fans, as the best in the country. “We believe that atmosphere is primarily dependent on the perceived relationship between fans and club - including the degree of supporter ownership and engagement. “In the absence of any imminent changes in the former, we therefore concentrate on other areas where we can have an impact in the short to medium term. “To that end, last week we met with directors [both board and venue] to explore what can be done. We will be reporting on that meeting in the coming days. “These were the items on the agenda: atmosphere; capacity expansion; reclaim the Stretford End; seat relocations; safe standing; expanding youth support; ticket pricing; supporter facilities in the stadium.” United’s ticketing and marketing strategy operations manager, Chris Moss, admitted at a fans’ meeting in November that the atmosphere at Old Trafford “could be improved”. A club spokesman said: “We are always open to a discussion on this matter. We look forward to hearing the ideas brought to the next fans’ forum but it is important to note that any solution must be fan-led, and that moving people out of seats they have held for many years is fraught with problems.”

'Quiet' Manchester United fans to press their case for safe standing

Manchester United will come under pressure to introduce safe standing areas when executives meet supporters this month to discuss Jose Mourinho’s complaints about the atmosphere at Old Trafford. Mourinho’s comments have been placed on the agenda at the next fans’ forum, which is routinely attended by senior figures at the club, including managing director Richard Arnold. United’s manager complained after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town that the home crowd had been “quiet”, as well as drawing unfavourable comparisons with the atmosphere at Portsmouth, whose ground boasts barely a quarter of the capacity of Old Trafford. That prompted a response from the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, which pinned most of the blame on the lack of “supporter ownership and engagement” under the Glazer regime. It also revealed it had recently met with directors to discuss changes that could improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford, including the introduction of safe standing, which would require Government approval. It said in a statement: “The decline in atmosphere is by no means limited to Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho wants more of an atmosphere at Old Trafford Credit: AP “It’s an issue affecting clubs throughout the country. And it’s certainly not an issue specific to Manchester United supporters - our away support is widely acknowledged, by fair-minded fans, as the best in the country. “We believe that atmosphere is primarily dependent on the perceived relationship between fans and club - including the degree of supporter ownership and engagement. “In the absence of any imminent changes in the former, we therefore concentrate on other areas where we can have an impact in the short to medium term. “To that end, last week we met with directors [both board and venue] to explore what can be done. We will be reporting on that meeting in the coming days. “These were the items on the agenda: atmosphere; capacity expansion; reclaim the Stretford End; seat relocations; safe standing; expanding youth support; ticket pricing; supporter facilities in the stadium.” United’s ticketing and marketing strategy operations manager, Chris Moss, admitted at a fans’ meeting in November that the atmosphere at Old Trafford “could be improved”. A club spokesman said: “We are always open to a discussion on this matter. We look forward to hearing the ideas brought to the next fans’ forum but it is important to note that any solution must be fan-led, and that moving people out of seats they have held for many years is fraught with problems.”

'Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth' - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' Man Utd fans

Despite picking up their 10th home win of the season, the Portuguese would like the fans to be more raucous

'Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth' - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' Man Utd fans

'Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth' - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' Man Utd fans

'Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth' - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' Man Utd fans

'Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth' - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' Man Utd fans

'Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth' - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' Man Utd fans

Despite picking up their 10th home win of the season, the Portuguese would like the fans to be more raucous

'It's no Portsmouth' - Mourinho slates 'quiet' Old Trafford

Jose Mourinho appeared to take a swipe at Manchester United fans at Old Trafford, after a 2-0 win over Huddersfield.

'It's no Portsmouth' - Mourinho slates 'quiet' Old Trafford

Jose Mourinho appeared to take a swipe at Manchester United fans at Old Trafford, after a 2-0 win over Huddersfield.

'It's no Portsmouth' - Mourinho slates 'quiet' Old Trafford

Jose Mourinho appeared to take a swipe at Manchester United fans at Old Trafford, after a 2-0 win over Huddersfield.

Manchester United 2 Huddersfield 0: No muzzling Alexis Sanchez as team-mates are brought to heel

There were moments on his Old Trafford debut when Alexis Sanchez looked every bit as impatient with his team-mates as he had done during the bleakest times at Arsenal, and it is this restlessness of spirit that might just breathe some life into Jose Mourinho’s team when they need it the most. After United’s Wembley mauling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, Sanchez scored his first goal for his new club, helped make the other for Romelu Lukaku and generally contributed an afternoon’s work worthy of the highest-paid player in the league. He suffers no fools, and he was resistant to some of the heavier challenges from Huddersfield Town as he probed and scurried around their defensive positions. It is difficult to judge United when they were up against a team that did not have a single attempt on David De Gea’s goal and have now slipped into the bottom three of the division, although the corresponding fixture in October was one of United’s worst defeats of the season. Mourinho dropped Paul Pogba for this game, a decision which he was reluctant to connect with the midfielder’s mediocrity at Wembley, and if it was a punishment it only lasted as long as the second half when the Frenchman came on. Afterwards, Mourinho tried to soften the blow to Pogba by talking up the suitability of his replacement, Scott McTominay, and while the academy boy did have a very solid performance it was hard to ignore the message being sent to the club’s £90 million man. “I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone,” Mourinho said. “Because to punish anyone I also need someone to punish me... we are a team and when we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. “I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and I think this kid has a great desire to recover the ball when the team is not in possession.” Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba celebrate Credit: PA In a moment of classic Mourinho sentimentality, he reflected on the story of McTominay and “the beautiful way a little kid who arrived here with his mum at nine years old for the first training session, 10 or 11 years later the kid is playing in a Manchester United shirt.” Then the United manager took aim at the home fans. Asked to explain a throwaway comment about Old Trafford being a “quiet stadium”, Mourinho made a surprise comparison with the Fratton Park he once knew. “It [Old Trafford] is not Portsmouth,” he said. “I remember Portsmouth when I was in Premier League and such a small stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible and here the atmosphere is a bit quiet and there is not very, very enthusiastic [sic] but the players like to play at home.” This was the day that United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, which falls on Tuesday, and two survivors, Sir Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg, were both at Old Trafford. Arguably not the best moment for supporters to unfurl a “Welcome to Manchester” banner in homage to Sanchez and his two pet dogs in the East Stand, presumably intended to be at the expense of Arsenal who had something similar at the Emirates. It was promptly removed by the stewards. Munich remembered | Charlton and Gregg at Old Trafford For David Wagner, this was a difficult day in which his side held out until half-time but were then opened up down the left when Sanchez won the ball for the move that led to Lukaku’s opening goal. Nemanja Matic played it into Juan Mata in the left channel, and his cross was met first time by United’s Belgian centre-forward, making this a fifth straight league defeat for the visitors. “I don’t like it that we are now in the bottom three but, to be totally honest, it makes it easier,” Wagner said. “We are the ones chasing the others. We don’t have to look over our shoulders. We knew these games against Liverpool and Manchester United would be difficult. Now there are fixtures ahead of us at home where we must create the atmosphere to fight and survive.” He was asked about a first-half moment in which winger Rajiv van La Parra went down, presumed injured, only to leap to his feet when the ball came his way. Naturally it went down badly with the home crowd and Wagner said he could see their point. “They [the players] are human and they make mistakes,” he said. For United, it was two points gained on Manchester City, their lead at the top of the league reduced to a mere 13 points and it was rough going for a while in the first half. Wagner had to replace Philip Billing after half an hour but not before he had clattered his way through a couple of challenges and into the book. Earlier, Terence Kongolo had come in hard to win a header against McTominay, and put the United man on his back without doing any lasting damage. In the second half on came Michael Hefele who was promptly booked and then gave away the penalty. Sanchez was too quick for the German defender on 68 minutes, drawing the foul with his movement. Jonas Lossl did well to block the penalty but pushed it back into the area and Sanchez finished. Terence Kongolo clatters into Scott McTominay Credit: AFP Mourinho later said that Marouane Fellaini could be back by the end of March after “a small [surgical] intervention in his external meniscus [ligament]”. As for Sanchez, he said the Chilean was more than capable of taking the rough challenges. “He is a humble guy who doesn't forget where he started and when he was playing in Chile he had difficult places to play and difficult opponents.” Certainly Old Trafford held no concerns for Sanchez, and it will be the demands he makes of his team-mates, as well as his own performance, that will have an immediate effect. 4:55PM Full time United win by virtue of having players capable of moments of genuine world-class quality - Mata's cross, Lukaku's finish and Sanchez's control and touch to win the penalty. 4:54PM 90+2 min Kongolo makes a well-timed tackle on Sanchez. It has promised far more than it has delivered this match but United will take the points and Huddersfield head back over the Pennines having escaped a shoeing. 4:51PM 89 min Sanchez is sufficiently warmed up now to remove his gloves. Matic sweeps a long pass out to the right where Rashford receives it and plays it in to Pogba who tries to work a quick one-two with Martial. But the first pass wasn't good enough to invite the return. 4:49PM 87 min Lossl belts a clearnace up the right where Shaw gets the better of Qauner to let it go out for a throw-in. 4:48PM 86 min Old Trafford begins to empty as the rain falls hard. 4:46PM 84 min Great defensive work from Valencia on the right who ran ll the way across his own goal to track Ince's run and whipped the cross from Quaner off the winger's foot as he pivoted to shoot. 4:45PM 83 min It's all gone a bit flat with United trying to swazz a goal with style and swagger and Huddersfield holding them at bay. 4:43PM 81 min Terrible cross from Rashford, walloped first time out by the touchline on the right, miles beyond Samchez and into touch. 4:41PM 79 min Fine pass from Rashford to free Valencia down the right but Huddersfield manage to bundle the cross clear. 4:39PM 77 min United make their third sub: Lukaku off, Martial on. 4:38PM 75 min Sanchez spots Pogba's diagonal dart to the near post and clips a pass to feet. Pogba angles his run away from goal to take the ball and tries to flick a first-time shot at goal. Not precise enough. 4:35PM 73 min Valencia glides down the right and sends a Barnes-Wallis bouncing cross into the box. Lukaku gets there first but spoons his half-volley over the bar. Miss: Man Utd 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 72 min) 4:33PM 72 min Rashford comes on to replace Juan Mata. 4:33PM 72 min Here's Lukaku's finish: Lukaku puts Manchester United 1-0 up Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images 4:31PM 70 min Van La Parra off, Tom Ince on. 4:31PM 68 min Mata feeds a short pass to Sanchez on the 18 yard line, dead centre. He shuffles his feet to move it inside and Hefele bundles it over. Sanchez fires the penalty to Lossl's right. The keeper saves low but only succeeds in beating it back to Sanchez who flicks it over the supine keeper. 4:29PM Penalty! Goal! Man Utd 2-0 Huddersfield (Sanchez) 4:28PM 65 min From the free-kick, or the breakdown from it rather, Mata skitters down the left, ignores the cry of Sanchez to play it short and arcs a cross towards the centre of goal where Lukaku meets it and steers it over. 4:26PM 64 min Hefele now joins three colleagues in the book for fouling Sanchez, who was cutting in from the left, 40 yards out. Sanchez stumbled on, trying to find Lukaku but the challenge hit him so high and with such force he couldn't keep his balance. 4:23PM 62 min United substitution: Pogba on for Lingard. 4:23PM 61 min Mooy upends Smalling who was having a gambol upfield on the right. Another mistimed slide tackle. 'Stay on your feet'. 4:21PM 60 min Town substitution: Hefele replaces the hobbling Schindler. 4:21PM 59 min Hogg is yellow-carded unjustly for brushing Lingard as he ran in front of him. 4:20PM 57 min Huddersfield go forward in numbers for the first time after Hadergjonaj's run down the right but they concede possession on the left and United bomb forward but can't make use of the space. 4:17PM 55 min A minute earlier Shaw got round Smith and squared to Lukaku by the penalty spot but Kongolo nipped in. Now Mata whips a cross to the near post and Lukaku meets it with a first-time left-foot hooked volley from eight yards. Great finish. 4:15PM GOAL!! Man Utd 1-0 Huddersfield (Lukaku) Man Utd 1 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 55 min) 4:14PM 52 min Brilliant from Sanchez to win a free-kick when he spins away from Hogg and bullocks forward only for Hogg to knock him flying with a desperate attempted recovery. But when he takes the free-kick, a chip over the top, Lukaku didn't read his mind and the ball hops through tamely to Lossl. 4:12PM 49 min Huddersfield saved twice from corners by flying bodies blocking 20-yard shots from Valencia and Lingard. The pressure is ratcheting up on Huddersfield but they are defending like dervishes. Miss: Man Utd 0 - 0 Huddersfield (Jesse Lingard, 49 min) 4:10PM 47 min Sanchez wriggles free on the left of the box and Smith slides in to block his shot. Lukaku's cute header played him in there and he should have scored. 4:08PM 46 min Here we go again. Manchester United kick off and move it back and to the right. Matic strokes it hither ad thither until he frees McTominay up the right who chips a pass up to Lukaku. He hooks it round the corner for Lingard but it skips away from him. 3:52PM Half time Lots of hustle and bustle, huffing and puffing but Huddersfield's house has stayed upright. 3:51PM 45+2 min Yellow card for Sanchez for a slide tackle on Hadergjonaj. The away fans sing 'What a waste of money' inevitably. 3:49PM 45+1 min Penalty box pinball from the corner ends with United breaking and Van La Parra in diligent pursuit. 3:49PM 44 min Huddersfield break quickly and smoothly. Smith brings it forward up the right, slides a pass up to Quaner who takes it in his stride and stands up a near-post cross for Depoitre. Smalling makes the vital challenge to win the header at the expense of a corner. 3:46PM 42 min Lossl plays sweeper keeper to gather Lingard's throughball straight down the middle for Lukaku. Huddersfield's line is insanely high. Average touch positions (43 min) 3:43PM 40 min United free-kick 30 yards out. Huddersfield line up by the D, dangerously high. Sanchez chips it over the top and this time they do catch Smalling offside. 3:41PM 37 min Sanchez is gesticulating at both Mata and Lingard, the first for passing to the last instead of him having spotted Lingard's run beyond Zanka. Lossl has to come out and leaves his goal empty but manages to catch Lingard's attempted chip from too acute an angle. Sanchez was screaming for the pull back. 3:39PM 36 min Replay of Sanchez's tumble in the box suggest some contact not on his right but his left boot. He held his right foot because Billing trod on it a second after the ball had gone. 3:38PM 34 min Huddersfield kick it out to make a sub - Mooy for Billing - and Sanchez doesn't give them the ball back. They're not impressed but it could have been worse had Lossl not dropped smartly to save Lingard's thumped 20-yard daisycutter. 3:36PM 32 min Depoitre falls heavily when fouled by Rojo as they went for a header. Huddersfield move it from right to left and back into the box but United clear and they make a sharp break. Sanchez runs with it through the centre-circle and accelerates. Van La Parra sticks with him and muscles him off the ball. 3:34PM 31 min Good play from Kongolo to slide in and whip the ball off Valencia into his shins and behind for a goalkick 12 yards out. 3:33PM 29 min It was probably accidental in intent to hurt but was filthy and reckless from Mata. Sanchez goes down clutching his right foot in the box when trying to reach Lingard's knockdown. Looked like a dive. 3:31PM 28 min Sanchez wakes up to smack a devilishly dipping shot as he skipped in from the left to bend it with his right foot from 20 yards. Lossl again saves well but Mata chases the rebound and implants his studs in Schindler's ankles. Yellow card. 'Not that sort of player' etc. 3:29PM 25 min Van La Parra, who was playing the old soldier to claim a foul off Valencia, springs up like Lazarus when the ball is cleared near him to gallop upfield to chase it and take on Valencia. Mourinho goes spare. The ball came to Van La Parra via the very quiet Sanchez's blocked shot. Man Utd vs Huddersfield shots on goal 3:27PM 24 min As Huddersfield try to hustle the ball upfield, Smalling retreats and Billing wipes him out with a sliding challenge that earns him a yellow card. 3:26PM 22 min Mata is in top form today, playing a gorgeous pass down the left that bypasses Schindler and allows Shaw to get round the back and hammer in a low cross that Huddersfield scramble clear. 3:25PM 20 min United should have a penalty - Kongolo clears out McTominay in an aerial challenge, hitting him midair off the ball and knocking the stuffing out of him. He went down like the proverbial sack of spuds. He passes the concussion protocol and is allowed to continue. The referee restarts with a bounce-up. Odd decision, that. Odd being a euphemism for garbage. 3:22PM 19 min Foul on the right from Van La Parra helping out Kongolo. He shoves Valencia in the back. Mata bends it in to the far post with his left. Lingard heads it but Lossl blocks. Huddersfield are protesting that it was offside as they spring the trap again. 3:20PM 17 min Decent cross from Hadergjonaj from the right is met by Van La Parra on about the 18 yard line but he is well challenged by Valencia and can't get a clear jump at it. 3:17PM 15 min Poor play from Hadergjonaj, the right back playing centre-mid today. He latches on to a slack pass and then gives it straight back. Possession: Man Utd vs Huddersfield 3:14PM 13 min Mata takes from the right. Huddersfield attempt a suicidal offside trap from a free-kick that leaves Smalling with a clear header at the back post when they mistime the charge. But Smalling mucks up his jump, gets over it, and bludgeons his header into the ground. Best league in the world. 3:13PM 11 min United are moving the ball around quickly, trying to manoeuvre the defence out of position. Valencia has some space ahead and sprints in to it to receive the ball and bomb down the right. Van La Parra, in pursuit, bundles him off the ball. Free kick. 3:10PM 9 min Lingard makes a tremendous, direct run, tacking slightly left on a diagonal as he powers through from halfway to the 18-yard line. He beats Zanka's lettuce-limp challenge and scuds a low left-foot shot that Lossl swoops down swiftly to save neatly. 3:09PM 7 min Mata whips the corner deep from the right and Rojo's header is blocked. United come back at pace up the right and Lukaku turns to spin a cute pass to meet Mata's run but he had gone too soon. Offside. 3:07PM 6 min Lingard steals down the inside-right channel and makes for the byline where he's found by Mata's clever pass. He trips over his own feet and knocks the ball behind. Referee Stuart Atwell gives a corner for a stonebonker goalkick. 3:06PM 4 min United pass the ball around in midfield, looking for a way to probe through Huddersfield's 4-5-1 on this slick pitch. Valencia slips and Huddersfield break through Hadergjonaj who lacks support. If they're going to play on the break they need to go together when they nick possession. 3:04PM 2 min McTominay turns blind and loses possession wantonly in the centre circle. Billing whips it off him but runs up a blind alley. United clear to Schindler who smashes a pass upfield down the left for Depoitre who can't get there before De Gea gathers. 3:03PM 1 min We're off, Depoitre kicks off, rolling the ball to Billing and scooting upfield but Town play it back to Lossl before launching it long. Smalling is first there and plays it back to his keeper. United build more patiently. 2:58PM The teams are out And we will shortly have a minute's commemoration for the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. 2:16PM A special day for David de Gea The 300's up: 3⃣0⃣0⃣ #MUFC appearances for United's no.1⃣ Congrats, @D_DeGea! #DaveSaves �� pic.twitter.com/NCooagOHQW— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:14PM Three changes for Huddersfield TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: #htafc Head Coach David Wagner has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s @premierleague match against @ManUtd at Old Trafford. ➡️ Tommy Smith, @vanlaparra17 and @CollinQuaner ⬅️ @AaronMooy, Chris Löwe and Steve Mounié (AT) pic.twitter.com/6BCJ7iwbUQ— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018 2:13PM The teams are in And Manchster United have dropped Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young. #MUFC's starting line-up for #MUNHUD is in... pic.twitter.com/UTYTd83BCT— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:08PM Good afternoon Tuesday marks 60 years since Feb 6 1958, when the second and greatest of three Manchester United teams built by Matt Busby were flying home from their 3-3 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup quarter-final second leg, a result that put them through to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory. They had stopped to refuel in Munich and made two attempts to take off that were abandoned due to problems with the left engine. Despite snowfall, the captain decided to make a third attempt, hit slush on the runway and the plane crashed through a fence and hit a house. It was the darkest day in the club’s history and in the 73 years of the English professional game. Seven Manchester United players were killed at the scene – Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, David Pegg, Geoff Bent and Tommy Taylor while the magnificent Duncan Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later. Three members of the United staff – Walter Crickmer, Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were mortally wounded and eight journalists travelling with the team – Henry Rose, Donny Davies, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Eric Thompson, George Follows, Alf Clarke and the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper turned News of the World correspondent Frank Swift – lost their lives along with the Manchester United fan Willie Satinoff, travel agent Bela Miklos and two members of the aircraft’s crew, Ken Rayment and Tom Cable. In addition two players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry were so badly injured they never played again The outpouring of grief in a far less tribal age was universal. Thousands of people attended memorials to the Busby Babes, youthful, vibrant, fearless players who appeared both to have the world at their feet and their feet on the ground. They had won the league in 1956 and 1957 playing a brand of athletic, attacking football that remains an imperishable memory for all who were fortunate enough to see a team bristling with vitality and potential and the incomparably powerful Edwards, the swerving and swivelling runs of Eddie ‘Snakehips’ Colman, the lethal finishing of Tommy Taylor and the quick, graceful Roger Byrne. Munich Air disaster memorial progammes at Old Trafford, Manchester Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Jimmy Murphy, the man who nurtured them for Busby, summed up the duty of the survivors best: "I know those lads better than anyone. I found them. I nurtured them. I was there with them every morning, noon and night, piss and rain and gales and snow. They let me mould their lives from the ground up. They repaid me, they repaid this club with their skill, their passion and now their lives. It's not about honouring their memory. It's about showing who we are to the world. Showing we'll not be bowed by tragedy. Because how we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today." Manchester United survived, eventually recovered and prospered but there remains a sorrow at the heart of the club that drives those who love it to pay justice to the eternally poignant memory of their beloved lost lads. Johnny Berry, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, Roger Byrne and Dennis Viollet Credit: Action Images / Mirrorpix Far more prosaically today also marks Huddersfield Town's first visit to Old Trafford since 1972, halcyon days of Joe Gormley, Reginald Maudling, Barry Foster as Piet van der Valk and Frank O'Farrell and Ian Greaves in adjoining dugouts. United won the match 2-0 with goals from E for B and Georgie Best and old double banger himself, Ian Storey- Moore. It's 88 years since Town won their only league game at Old Trafford, a 6-0 thrashing in 1930, four years after the third of their hat-trick of titles for which they will wear the stars on their shirts today. What does this tell us about the prospects of an away victory today? Nish, I'm afraid but then Town's objective prospects, despite winning the home meeting back in October when riding high, high, high. Three draws and four defeats since their last win - over Watford in mid-December - have greased their plummet down to 17th, a point and a place off the bottom three, and their performances against Liverpool and West Ham were worryingly passive and one-paced at times. There's a compelling argument to be made for ditching the 5-3-2 they used against Liverpool and opting not for their default 4-2-3-1 but going for a 4-4-2, sticking Tom Ince in the XI and telling him to run at United's full-backs. Aaron Mooy scores Huddersfield Town's opener in the home 2-1 victory over United last October Credit: Gareth Copley/Getty Images As for Manchester United, whose results have pardoned the performances until the wheels came off at Wembley and Phil Jones, after an impressive run of form, did what Phil Jones usually does after an impressive run of form and had a stinker, a convincing performance is required today. Having signed Alexis Sanchez and started him on the left against Spurs, wouldn't it make more sense to stick him on the right in a 4-3-3 so they could [a] use Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford in their optimum positions and [b] stop wasting Paul Pogba. He was magnificent against Everton in a more advanced role and this square peg-round hole nonsense of Mourinho's is never going to be as effective as playing him in his proper position. Time to compromise. You should read JJ Bull for more analysis: Why can't Jose Mourinho get the most out of Paul Pogba? We'll have team news from 2pm. We know Denis Law will be there to see two clubs he loves, the one that nurtured him and the one that gave him a stage for his magnificence to shine, but I hope Arnie Sidebottom who served both with less distinction but equal dedication is there, too. "C'mon, Arn!"

Manchester United 2 Huddersfield 0: No muzzling Alexis Sanchez as team-mates are brought to heel

There were moments on his Old Trafford debut when Alexis Sanchez looked every bit as impatient with his team-mates as he had done during the bleakest times at Arsenal, and it is this restlessness of spirit that might just breathe some life into Jose Mourinho’s team when they need it the most. After United’s Wembley mauling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, Sanchez scored his first goal for his new club, helped make the other for Romelu Lukaku and generally contributed an afternoon’s work worthy of the highest-paid player in the league. He suffers no fools, and he was resistant to some of the heavier challenges from Huddersfield Town as he probed and scurried around their defensive positions. It is difficult to judge United when they were up against a team that did not have a single attempt on David De Gea’s goal and have now slipped into the bottom three of the division, although the corresponding fixture in October was one of United’s worst defeats of the season. Mourinho dropped Paul Pogba for this game, a decision which he was reluctant to connect with the midfielder’s mediocrity at Wembley, and if it was a punishment it only lasted as long as the second half when the Frenchman came on. Afterwards, Mourinho tried to soften the blow to Pogba by talking up the suitability of his replacement, Scott McTominay, and while the academy boy did have a very solid performance it was hard to ignore the message being sent to the club’s £90 million man. “I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone,” Mourinho said. “Because to punish anyone I also need someone to punish me... we are a team and when we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. “I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and I think this kid has a great desire to recover the ball when the team is not in possession.” Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba celebrate Credit: PA In a moment of classic Mourinho sentimentality, he reflected on the story of McTominay and “the beautiful way a little kid who arrived here with his mum at nine years old for the first training session, 10 or 11 years later the kid is playing in a Manchester United shirt.” Then the United manager took aim at the home fans. Asked to explain a throwaway comment about Old Trafford being a “quiet stadium”, Mourinho made a surprise comparison with the Fratton Park he once knew. “It [Old Trafford] is not Portsmouth,” he said. “I remember Portsmouth when I was in Premier League and such a small stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible and here the atmosphere is a bit quiet and there is not very, very enthusiastic [sic] but the players like to play at home.” This was the day that United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, which falls on Tuesday, and two survivors, Sir Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg, were both at Old Trafford. Arguably not the best moment for supporters to unfurl a “Welcome to Manchester” banner in homage to Sanchez and his two pet dogs in the East Stand, presumably intended to be at the expense of Arsenal who had something similar at the Emirates. It was promptly removed by the stewards. Munich remembered | Charlton and Gregg at Old Trafford For David Wagner, this was a difficult day in which his side held out until half-time but were then opened up down the left when Sanchez won the ball for the move that led to Lukaku’s opening goal. Nemanja Matic played it into Juan Mata in the left channel, and his cross was met first time by United’s Belgian centre-forward, making this a fifth straight league defeat for the visitors. “I don’t like it that we are now in the bottom three but, to be totally honest, it makes it easier,” Wagner said. “We are the ones chasing the others. We don’t have to look over our shoulders. We knew these games against Liverpool and Manchester United would be difficult. Now there are fixtures ahead of us at home where we must create the atmosphere to fight and survive.” He was asked about a first-half moment in which winger Rajiv van La Parra went down, presumed injured, only to leap to his feet when the ball came his way. Naturally it went down badly with the home crowd and Wagner said he could see their point. “They [the players] are human and they make mistakes,” he said. For United, it was two points gained on Manchester City, their lead at the top of the league reduced to a mere 13 points and it was rough going for a while in the first half. Wagner had to replace Philip Billing after half an hour but not before he had clattered his way through a couple of challenges and into the book. Earlier, Terence Kongolo had come in hard to win a header against McTominay, and put the United man on his back without doing any lasting damage. In the second half on came Michael Hefele who was promptly booked and then gave away the penalty. Sanchez was too quick for the German defender on 68 minutes, drawing the foul with his movement. Jonas Lossl did well to block the penalty but pushed it back into the area and Sanchez finished. Terence Kongolo clatters into Scott McTominay Credit: AFP Mourinho later said that Marouane Fellaini could be back by the end of March after “a small [surgical] intervention in his external meniscus [ligament]”. As for Sanchez, he said the Chilean was more than capable of taking the rough challenges. “He is a humble guy who doesn't forget where he started and when he was playing in Chile he had difficult places to play and difficult opponents.” Certainly Old Trafford held no concerns for Sanchez, and it will be the demands he makes of his team-mates, as well as his own performance, that will have an immediate effect. 4:55PM Full time United win by virtue of having players capable of moments of genuine world-class quality - Mata's cross, Lukaku's finish and Sanchez's control and touch to win the penalty. 4:54PM 90+2 min Kongolo makes a well-timed tackle on Sanchez. It has promised far more than it has delivered this match but United will take the points and Huddersfield head back over the Pennines having escaped a shoeing. 4:51PM 89 min Sanchez is sufficiently warmed up now to remove his gloves. Matic sweeps a long pass out to the right where Rashford receives it and plays it in to Pogba who tries to work a quick one-two with Martial. But the first pass wasn't good enough to invite the return. 4:49PM 87 min Lossl belts a clearnace up the right where Shaw gets the better of Qauner to let it go out for a throw-in. 4:48PM 86 min Old Trafford begins to empty as the rain falls hard. 4:46PM 84 min Great defensive work from Valencia on the right who ran ll the way across his own goal to track Ince's run and whipped the cross from Quaner off the winger's foot as he pivoted to shoot. 4:45PM 83 min It's all gone a bit flat with United trying to swazz a goal with style and swagger and Huddersfield holding them at bay. 4:43PM 81 min Terrible cross from Rashford, walloped first time out by the touchline on the right, miles beyond Samchez and into touch. 4:41PM 79 min Fine pass from Rashford to free Valencia down the right but Huddersfield manage to bundle the cross clear. 4:39PM 77 min United make their third sub: Lukaku off, Martial on. 4:38PM 75 min Sanchez spots Pogba's diagonal dart to the near post and clips a pass to feet. Pogba angles his run away from goal to take the ball and tries to flick a first-time shot at goal. Not precise enough. 4:35PM 73 min Valencia glides down the right and sends a Barnes-Wallis bouncing cross into the box. Lukaku gets there first but spoons his half-volley over the bar. Miss: Man Utd 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 72 min) 4:33PM 72 min Rashford comes on to replace Juan Mata. 4:33PM 72 min Here's Lukaku's finish: Lukaku puts Manchester United 1-0 up Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images 4:31PM 70 min Van La Parra off, Tom Ince on. 4:31PM 68 min Mata feeds a short pass to Sanchez on the 18 yard line, dead centre. He shuffles his feet to move it inside and Hefele bundles it over. Sanchez fires the penalty to Lossl's right. The keeper saves low but only succeeds in beating it back to Sanchez who flicks it over the supine keeper. 4:29PM Penalty! Goal! Man Utd 2-0 Huddersfield (Sanchez) 4:28PM 65 min From the free-kick, or the breakdown from it rather, Mata skitters down the left, ignores the cry of Sanchez to play it short and arcs a cross towards the centre of goal where Lukaku meets it and steers it over. 4:26PM 64 min Hefele now joins three colleagues in the book for fouling Sanchez, who was cutting in from the left, 40 yards out. Sanchez stumbled on, trying to find Lukaku but the challenge hit him so high and with such force he couldn't keep his balance. 4:23PM 62 min United substitution: Pogba on for Lingard. 4:23PM 61 min Mooy upends Smalling who was having a gambol upfield on the right. Another mistimed slide tackle. 'Stay on your feet'. 4:21PM 60 min Town substitution: Hefele replaces the hobbling Schindler. 4:21PM 59 min Hogg is yellow-carded unjustly for brushing Lingard as he ran in front of him. 4:20PM 57 min Huddersfield go forward in numbers for the first time after Hadergjonaj's run down the right but they concede possession on the left and United bomb forward but can't make use of the space. 4:17PM 55 min A minute earlier Shaw got round Smith and squared to Lukaku by the penalty spot but Kongolo nipped in. Now Mata whips a cross to the near post and Lukaku meets it with a first-time left-foot hooked volley from eight yards. Great finish. 4:15PM GOAL!! Man Utd 1-0 Huddersfield (Lukaku) Man Utd 1 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 55 min) 4:14PM 52 min Brilliant from Sanchez to win a free-kick when he spins away from Hogg and bullocks forward only for Hogg to knock him flying with a desperate attempted recovery. But when he takes the free-kick, a chip over the top, Lukaku didn't read his mind and the ball hops through tamely to Lossl. 4:12PM 49 min Huddersfield saved twice from corners by flying bodies blocking 20-yard shots from Valencia and Lingard. The pressure is ratcheting up on Huddersfield but they are defending like dervishes. Miss: Man Utd 0 - 0 Huddersfield (Jesse Lingard, 49 min) 4:10PM 47 min Sanchez wriggles free on the left of the box and Smith slides in to block his shot. Lukaku's cute header played him in there and he should have scored. 4:08PM 46 min Here we go again. Manchester United kick off and move it back and to the right. Matic strokes it hither ad thither until he frees McTominay up the right who chips a pass up to Lukaku. He hooks it round the corner for Lingard but it skips away from him. 3:52PM Half time Lots of hustle and bustle, huffing and puffing but Huddersfield's house has stayed upright. 3:51PM 45+2 min Yellow card for Sanchez for a slide tackle on Hadergjonaj. The away fans sing 'What a waste of money' inevitably. 3:49PM 45+1 min Penalty box pinball from the corner ends with United breaking and Van La Parra in diligent pursuit. 3:49PM 44 min Huddersfield break quickly and smoothly. Smith brings it forward up the right, slides a pass up to Quaner who takes it in his stride and stands up a near-post cross for Depoitre. Smalling makes the vital challenge to win the header at the expense of a corner. 3:46PM 42 min Lossl plays sweeper keeper to gather Lingard's throughball straight down the middle for Lukaku. Huddersfield's line is insanely high. Average touch positions (43 min) 3:43PM 40 min United free-kick 30 yards out. Huddersfield line up by the D, dangerously high. Sanchez chips it over the top and this time they do catch Smalling offside. 3:41PM 37 min Sanchez is gesticulating at both Mata and Lingard, the first for passing to the last instead of him having spotted Lingard's run beyond Zanka. Lossl has to come out and leaves his goal empty but manages to catch Lingard's attempted chip from too acute an angle. Sanchez was screaming for the pull back. 3:39PM 36 min Replay of Sanchez's tumble in the box suggest some contact not on his right but his left boot. He held his right foot because Billing trod on it a second after the ball had gone. 3:38PM 34 min Huddersfield kick it out to make a sub - Mooy for Billing - and Sanchez doesn't give them the ball back. They're not impressed but it could have been worse had Lossl not dropped smartly to save Lingard's thumped 20-yard daisycutter. 3:36PM 32 min Depoitre falls heavily when fouled by Rojo as they went for a header. Huddersfield move it from right to left and back into the box but United clear and they make a sharp break. Sanchez runs with it through the centre-circle and accelerates. Van La Parra sticks with him and muscles him off the ball. 3:34PM 31 min Good play from Kongolo to slide in and whip the ball off Valencia into his shins and behind for a goalkick 12 yards out. 3:33PM 29 min It was probably accidental in intent to hurt but was filthy and reckless from Mata. Sanchez goes down clutching his right foot in the box when trying to reach Lingard's knockdown. Looked like a dive. 3:31PM 28 min Sanchez wakes up to smack a devilishly dipping shot as he skipped in from the left to bend it with his right foot from 20 yards. Lossl again saves well but Mata chases the rebound and implants his studs in Schindler's ankles. Yellow card. 'Not that sort of player' etc. 3:29PM 25 min Van La Parra, who was playing the old soldier to claim a foul off Valencia, springs up like Lazarus when the ball is cleared near him to gallop upfield to chase it and take on Valencia. Mourinho goes spare. The ball came to Van La Parra via the very quiet Sanchez's blocked shot. Man Utd vs Huddersfield shots on goal 3:27PM 24 min As Huddersfield try to hustle the ball upfield, Smalling retreats and Billing wipes him out with a sliding challenge that earns him a yellow card. 3:26PM 22 min Mata is in top form today, playing a gorgeous pass down the left that bypasses Schindler and allows Shaw to get round the back and hammer in a low cross that Huddersfield scramble clear. 3:25PM 20 min United should have a penalty - Kongolo clears out McTominay in an aerial challenge, hitting him midair off the ball and knocking the stuffing out of him. He went down like the proverbial sack of spuds. He passes the concussion protocol and is allowed to continue. The referee restarts with a bounce-up. Odd decision, that. Odd being a euphemism for garbage. 3:22PM 19 min Foul on the right from Van La Parra helping out Kongolo. He shoves Valencia in the back. Mata bends it in to the far post with his left. Lingard heads it but Lossl blocks. Huddersfield are protesting that it was offside as they spring the trap again. 3:20PM 17 min Decent cross from Hadergjonaj from the right is met by Van La Parra on about the 18 yard line but he is well challenged by Valencia and can't get a clear jump at it. 3:17PM 15 min Poor play from Hadergjonaj, the right back playing centre-mid today. He latches on to a slack pass and then gives it straight back. Possession: Man Utd vs Huddersfield 3:14PM 13 min Mata takes from the right. Huddersfield attempt a suicidal offside trap from a free-kick that leaves Smalling with a clear header at the back post when they mistime the charge. But Smalling mucks up his jump, gets over it, and bludgeons his header into the ground. Best league in the world. 3:13PM 11 min United are moving the ball around quickly, trying to manoeuvre the defence out of position. Valencia has some space ahead and sprints in to it to receive the ball and bomb down the right. Van La Parra, in pursuit, bundles him off the ball. Free kick. 3:10PM 9 min Lingard makes a tremendous, direct run, tacking slightly left on a diagonal as he powers through from halfway to the 18-yard line. He beats Zanka's lettuce-limp challenge and scuds a low left-foot shot that Lossl swoops down swiftly to save neatly. 3:09PM 7 min Mata whips the corner deep from the right and Rojo's header is blocked. United come back at pace up the right and Lukaku turns to spin a cute pass to meet Mata's run but he had gone too soon. Offside. 3:07PM 6 min Lingard steals down the inside-right channel and makes for the byline where he's found by Mata's clever pass. He trips over his own feet and knocks the ball behind. Referee Stuart Atwell gives a corner for a stonebonker goalkick. 3:06PM 4 min United pass the ball around in midfield, looking for a way to probe through Huddersfield's 4-5-1 on this slick pitch. Valencia slips and Huddersfield break through Hadergjonaj who lacks support. If they're going to play on the break they need to go together when they nick possession. 3:04PM 2 min McTominay turns blind and loses possession wantonly in the centre circle. Billing whips it off him but runs up a blind alley. United clear to Schindler who smashes a pass upfield down the left for Depoitre who can't get there before De Gea gathers. 3:03PM 1 min We're off, Depoitre kicks off, rolling the ball to Billing and scooting upfield but Town play it back to Lossl before launching it long. Smalling is first there and plays it back to his keeper. United build more patiently. 2:58PM The teams are out And we will shortly have a minute's commemoration for the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. 2:16PM A special day for David de Gea The 300's up: 3⃣0⃣0⃣ #MUFC appearances for United's no.1⃣ Congrats, @D_DeGea! #DaveSaves �� pic.twitter.com/NCooagOHQW— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:14PM Three changes for Huddersfield TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: #htafc Head Coach David Wagner has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s @premierleague match against @ManUtd at Old Trafford. ➡️ Tommy Smith, @vanlaparra17 and @CollinQuaner ⬅️ @AaronMooy, Chris Löwe and Steve Mounié (AT) pic.twitter.com/6BCJ7iwbUQ— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018 2:13PM The teams are in And Manchster United have dropped Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young. #MUFC's starting line-up for #MUNHUD is in... pic.twitter.com/UTYTd83BCT— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:08PM Good afternoon Tuesday marks 60 years since Feb 6 1958, when the second and greatest of three Manchester United teams built by Matt Busby were flying home from their 3-3 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup quarter-final second leg, a result that put them through to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory. They had stopped to refuel in Munich and made two attempts to take off that were abandoned due to problems with the left engine. Despite snowfall, the captain decided to make a third attempt, hit slush on the runway and the plane crashed through a fence and hit a house. It was the darkest day in the club’s history and in the 73 years of the English professional game. Seven Manchester United players were killed at the scene – Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, David Pegg, Geoff Bent and Tommy Taylor while the magnificent Duncan Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later. Three members of the United staff – Walter Crickmer, Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were mortally wounded and eight journalists travelling with the team – Henry Rose, Donny Davies, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Eric Thompson, George Follows, Alf Clarke and the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper turned News of the World correspondent Frank Swift – lost their lives along with the Manchester United fan Willie Satinoff, travel agent Bela Miklos and two members of the aircraft’s crew, Ken Rayment and Tom Cable. In addition two players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry were so badly injured they never played again The outpouring of grief in a far less tribal age was universal. Thousands of people attended memorials to the Busby Babes, youthful, vibrant, fearless players who appeared both to have the world at their feet and their feet on the ground. They had won the league in 1956 and 1957 playing a brand of athletic, attacking football that remains an imperishable memory for all who were fortunate enough to see a team bristling with vitality and potential and the incomparably powerful Edwards, the swerving and swivelling runs of Eddie ‘Snakehips’ Colman, the lethal finishing of Tommy Taylor and the quick, graceful Roger Byrne. Munich Air disaster memorial progammes at Old Trafford, Manchester Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Jimmy Murphy, the man who nurtured them for Busby, summed up the duty of the survivors best: "I know those lads better than anyone. I found them. I nurtured them. I was there with them every morning, noon and night, piss and rain and gales and snow. They let me mould their lives from the ground up. They repaid me, they repaid this club with their skill, their passion and now their lives. It's not about honouring their memory. It's about showing who we are to the world. Showing we'll not be bowed by tragedy. Because how we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today." Manchester United survived, eventually recovered and prospered but there remains a sorrow at the heart of the club that drives those who love it to pay justice to the eternally poignant memory of their beloved lost lads. Johnny Berry, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, Roger Byrne and Dennis Viollet Credit: Action Images / Mirrorpix Far more prosaically today also marks Huddersfield Town's first visit to Old Trafford since 1972, halcyon days of Joe Gormley, Reginald Maudling, Barry Foster as Piet van der Valk and Frank O'Farrell and Ian Greaves in adjoining dugouts. United won the match 2-0 with goals from E for B and Georgie Best and old double banger himself, Ian Storey- Moore. It's 88 years since Town won their only league game at Old Trafford, a 6-0 thrashing in 1930, four years after the third of their hat-trick of titles for which they will wear the stars on their shirts today. What does this tell us about the prospects of an away victory today? Nish, I'm afraid but then Town's objective prospects, despite winning the home meeting back in October when riding high, high, high. Three draws and four defeats since their last win - over Watford in mid-December - have greased their plummet down to 17th, a point and a place off the bottom three, and their performances against Liverpool and West Ham were worryingly passive and one-paced at times. There's a compelling argument to be made for ditching the 5-3-2 they used against Liverpool and opting not for their default 4-2-3-1 but going for a 4-4-2, sticking Tom Ince in the XI and telling him to run at United's full-backs. Aaron Mooy scores Huddersfield Town's opener in the home 2-1 victory over United last October Credit: Gareth Copley/Getty Images As for Manchester United, whose results have pardoned the performances until the wheels came off at Wembley and Phil Jones, after an impressive run of form, did what Phil Jones usually does after an impressive run of form and had a stinker, a convincing performance is required today. Having signed Alexis Sanchez and started him on the left against Spurs, wouldn't it make more sense to stick him on the right in a 4-3-3 so they could [a] use Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford in their optimum positions and [b] stop wasting Paul Pogba. He was magnificent against Everton in a more advanced role and this square peg-round hole nonsense of Mourinho's is never going to be as effective as playing him in his proper position. Time to compromise. You should read JJ Bull for more analysis: Why can't Jose Mourinho get the most out of Paul Pogba? We'll have team news from 2pm. We know Denis Law will be there to see two clubs he loves, the one that nurtured him and the one that gave him a stage for his magnificence to shine, but I hope Arnie Sidebottom who served both with less distinction but equal dedication is there, too. "C'mon, Arn!"

Manchester United 2 Huddersfield 0: No muzzling Alexis Sanchez as team-mates are brought to heel

There were moments on his Old Trafford debut when Alexis Sanchez looked every bit as impatient with his team-mates as he had done during the bleakest times at Arsenal, and it is this restlessness of spirit that might just breathe some life into Jose Mourinho’s team when they need it the most. After United’s Wembley mauling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, Sanchez scored his first goal for his new club, helped make the other for Romelu Lukaku and generally contributed an afternoon’s work worthy of the highest-paid player in the league. He suffers no fools, and he was resistant to some of the heavier challenges from Huddersfield Town as he probed and scurried around their defensive positions. It is difficult to judge United when they were up against a team that did not have a single attempt on David De Gea’s goal and have now slipped into the bottom three of the division, although the corresponding fixture in October was one of United’s worst defeats of the season. Mourinho dropped Paul Pogba for this game, a decision which he was reluctant to connect with the midfielder’s mediocrity at Wembley, and if it was a punishment it only lasted as long as the second half when the Frenchman came on. Afterwards, Mourinho tried to soften the blow to Pogba by talking up the suitability of his replacement, Scott McTominay, and while the academy boy did have a very solid performance it was hard to ignore the message being sent to the club’s £90 million man. “I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone,” Mourinho said. “Because to punish anyone I also need someone to punish me... we are a team and when we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. “I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and I think this kid has a great desire to recover the ball when the team is not in possession.” Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba celebrate Credit: PA In a moment of classic Mourinho sentimentality, he reflected on the story of McTominay and “the beautiful way a little kid who arrived here with his mum at nine years old for the first training session, 10 or 11 years later the kid is playing in a Manchester United shirt.” Then the United manager took aim at the home fans. Asked to explain a throwaway comment about Old Trafford being a “quiet stadium”, Mourinho made a surprise comparison with the Fratton Park he once knew. “It [Old Trafford] is not Portsmouth,” he said. “I remember Portsmouth when I was in Premier League and such a small stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible and here the atmosphere is a bit quiet and there is not very, very enthusiastic [sic] but the players like to play at home.” This was the day that United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, which falls on Tuesday, and two survivors, Sir Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg, were both at Old Trafford. Arguably not the best moment for supporters to unfurl a “Welcome to Manchester” banner in homage to Sanchez and his two pet dogs in the East Stand, presumably intended to be at the expense of Arsenal who had something similar at the Emirates. It was promptly removed by the stewards. Munich remembered | Charlton and Gregg at Old Trafford For David Wagner, this was a difficult day in which his side held out until half-time but were then opened up down the left when Sanchez won the ball for the move that led to Lukaku’s opening goal. Nemanja Matic played it into Juan Mata in the left channel, and his cross was met first time by United’s Belgian centre-forward, making this a fifth straight league defeat for the visitors. “I don’t like it that we are now in the bottom three but, to be totally honest, it makes it easier,” Wagner said. “We are the ones chasing the others. We don’t have to look over our shoulders. We knew these games against Liverpool and Manchester United would be difficult. Now there are fixtures ahead of us at home where we must create the atmosphere to fight and survive.” He was asked about a first-half moment in which winger Rajiv van La Parra went down, presumed injured, only to leap to his feet when the ball came his way. Naturally it went down badly with the home crowd and Wagner said he could see their point. “They [the players] are human and they make mistakes,” he said. For United, it was two points gained on Manchester City, their lead at the top of the league reduced to a mere 13 points and it was rough going for a while in the first half. Wagner had to replace Philip Billing after half an hour but not before he had clattered his way through a couple of challenges and into the book. Earlier, Terence Kongolo had come in hard to win a header against McTominay, and put the United man on his back without doing any lasting damage. In the second half on came Michael Hefele who was promptly booked and then gave away the penalty. Sanchez was too quick for the German defender on 68 minutes, drawing the foul with his movement. Jonas Lossl did well to block the penalty but pushed it back into the area and Sanchez finished. Terence Kongolo clatters into Scott McTominay Credit: AFP Mourinho later said that Marouane Fellaini could be back by the end of March after “a small [surgical] intervention in his external meniscus [ligament]”. As for Sanchez, he said the Chilean was more than capable of taking the rough challenges. “He is a humble guy who doesn't forget where he started and when he was playing in Chile he had difficult places to play and difficult opponents.” Certainly Old Trafford held no concerns for Sanchez, and it will be the demands he makes of his team-mates, as well as his own performance, that will have an immediate effect. 4:55PM Full time United win by virtue of having players capable of moments of genuine world-class quality - Mata's cross, Lukaku's finish and Sanchez's control and touch to win the penalty. 4:54PM 90+2 min Kongolo makes a well-timed tackle on Sanchez. It has promised far more than it has delivered this match but United will take the points and Huddersfield head back over the Pennines having escaped a shoeing. 4:51PM 89 min Sanchez is sufficiently warmed up now to remove his gloves. Matic sweeps a long pass out to the right where Rashford receives it and plays it in to Pogba who tries to work a quick one-two with Martial. But the first pass wasn't good enough to invite the return. 4:49PM 87 min Lossl belts a clearnace up the right where Shaw gets the better of Qauner to let it go out for a throw-in. 4:48PM 86 min Old Trafford begins to empty as the rain falls hard. 4:46PM 84 min Great defensive work from Valencia on the right who ran ll the way across his own goal to track Ince's run and whipped the cross from Quaner off the winger's foot as he pivoted to shoot. 4:45PM 83 min It's all gone a bit flat with United trying to swazz a goal with style and swagger and Huddersfield holding them at bay. 4:43PM 81 min Terrible cross from Rashford, walloped first time out by the touchline on the right, miles beyond Samchez and into touch. 4:41PM 79 min Fine pass from Rashford to free Valencia down the right but Huddersfield manage to bundle the cross clear. 4:39PM 77 min United make their third sub: Lukaku off, Martial on. 4:38PM 75 min Sanchez spots Pogba's diagonal dart to the near post and clips a pass to feet. Pogba angles his run away from goal to take the ball and tries to flick a first-time shot at goal. Not precise enough. 4:35PM 73 min Valencia glides down the right and sends a Barnes-Wallis bouncing cross into the box. Lukaku gets there first but spoons his half-volley over the bar. Miss: Man Utd 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 72 min) 4:33PM 72 min Rashford comes on to replace Juan Mata. 4:33PM 72 min Here's Lukaku's finish: Lukaku puts Manchester United 1-0 up Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images 4:31PM 70 min Van La Parra off, Tom Ince on. 4:31PM 68 min Mata feeds a short pass to Sanchez on the 18 yard line, dead centre. He shuffles his feet to move it inside and Hefele bundles it over. Sanchez fires the penalty to Lossl's right. The keeper saves low but only succeeds in beating it back to Sanchez who flicks it over the supine keeper. 4:29PM Penalty! Goal! Man Utd 2-0 Huddersfield (Sanchez) 4:28PM 65 min From the free-kick, or the breakdown from it rather, Mata skitters down the left, ignores the cry of Sanchez to play it short and arcs a cross towards the centre of goal where Lukaku meets it and steers it over. 4:26PM 64 min Hefele now joins three colleagues in the book for fouling Sanchez, who was cutting in from the left, 40 yards out. Sanchez stumbled on, trying to find Lukaku but the challenge hit him so high and with such force he couldn't keep his balance. 4:23PM 62 min United substitution: Pogba on for Lingard. 4:23PM 61 min Mooy upends Smalling who was having a gambol upfield on the right. Another mistimed slide tackle. 'Stay on your feet'. 4:21PM 60 min Town substitution: Hefele replaces the hobbling Schindler. 4:21PM 59 min Hogg is yellow-carded unjustly for brushing Lingard as he ran in front of him. 4:20PM 57 min Huddersfield go forward in numbers for the first time after Hadergjonaj's run down the right but they concede possession on the left and United bomb forward but can't make use of the space. 4:17PM 55 min A minute earlier Shaw got round Smith and squared to Lukaku by the penalty spot but Kongolo nipped in. Now Mata whips a cross to the near post and Lukaku meets it with a first-time left-foot hooked volley from eight yards. Great finish. 4:15PM GOAL!! Man Utd 1-0 Huddersfield (Lukaku) Man Utd 1 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 55 min) 4:14PM 52 min Brilliant from Sanchez to win a free-kick when he spins away from Hogg and bullocks forward only for Hogg to knock him flying with a desperate attempted recovery. But when he takes the free-kick, a chip over the top, Lukaku didn't read his mind and the ball hops through tamely to Lossl. 4:12PM 49 min Huddersfield saved twice from corners by flying bodies blocking 20-yard shots from Valencia and Lingard. The pressure is ratcheting up on Huddersfield but they are defending like dervishes. Miss: Man Utd 0 - 0 Huddersfield (Jesse Lingard, 49 min) 4:10PM 47 min Sanchez wriggles free on the left of the box and Smith slides in to block his shot. Lukaku's cute header played him in there and he should have scored. 4:08PM 46 min Here we go again. Manchester United kick off and move it back and to the right. Matic strokes it hither ad thither until he frees McTominay up the right who chips a pass up to Lukaku. He hooks it round the corner for Lingard but it skips away from him. 3:52PM Half time Lots of hustle and bustle, huffing and puffing but Huddersfield's house has stayed upright. 3:51PM 45+2 min Yellow card for Sanchez for a slide tackle on Hadergjonaj. The away fans sing 'What a waste of money' inevitably. 3:49PM 45+1 min Penalty box pinball from the corner ends with United breaking and Van La Parra in diligent pursuit. 3:49PM 44 min Huddersfield break quickly and smoothly. Smith brings it forward up the right, slides a pass up to Quaner who takes it in his stride and stands up a near-post cross for Depoitre. Smalling makes the vital challenge to win the header at the expense of a corner. 3:46PM 42 min Lossl plays sweeper keeper to gather Lingard's throughball straight down the middle for Lukaku. Huddersfield's line is insanely high. Average touch positions (43 min) 3:43PM 40 min United free-kick 30 yards out. Huddersfield line up by the D, dangerously high. Sanchez chips it over the top and this time they do catch Smalling offside. 3:41PM 37 min Sanchez is gesticulating at both Mata and Lingard, the first for passing to the last instead of him having spotted Lingard's run beyond Zanka. Lossl has to come out and leaves his goal empty but manages to catch Lingard's attempted chip from too acute an angle. Sanchez was screaming for the pull back. 3:39PM 36 min Replay of Sanchez's tumble in the box suggest some contact not on his right but his left boot. He held his right foot because Billing trod on it a second after the ball had gone. 3:38PM 34 min Huddersfield kick it out to make a sub - Mooy for Billing - and Sanchez doesn't give them the ball back. They're not impressed but it could have been worse had Lossl not dropped smartly to save Lingard's thumped 20-yard daisycutter. 3:36PM 32 min Depoitre falls heavily when fouled by Rojo as they went for a header. Huddersfield move it from right to left and back into the box but United clear and they make a sharp break. Sanchez runs with it through the centre-circle and accelerates. Van La Parra sticks with him and muscles him off the ball. 3:34PM 31 min Good play from Kongolo to slide in and whip the ball off Valencia into his shins and behind for a goalkick 12 yards out. 3:33PM 29 min It was probably accidental in intent to hurt but was filthy and reckless from Mata. Sanchez goes down clutching his right foot in the box when trying to reach Lingard's knockdown. Looked like a dive. 3:31PM 28 min Sanchez wakes up to smack a devilishly dipping shot as he skipped in from the left to bend it with his right foot from 20 yards. Lossl again saves well but Mata chases the rebound and implants his studs in Schindler's ankles. Yellow card. 'Not that sort of player' etc. 3:29PM 25 min Van La Parra, who was playing the old soldier to claim a foul off Valencia, springs up like Lazarus when the ball is cleared near him to gallop upfield to chase it and take on Valencia. Mourinho goes spare. The ball came to Van La Parra via the very quiet Sanchez's blocked shot. Man Utd vs Huddersfield shots on goal 3:27PM 24 min As Huddersfield try to hustle the ball upfield, Smalling retreats and Billing wipes him out with a sliding challenge that earns him a yellow card. 3:26PM 22 min Mata is in top form today, playing a gorgeous pass down the left that bypasses Schindler and allows Shaw to get round the back and hammer in a low cross that Huddersfield scramble clear. 3:25PM 20 min United should have a penalty - Kongolo clears out McTominay in an aerial challenge, hitting him midair off the ball and knocking the stuffing out of him. He went down like the proverbial sack of spuds. He passes the concussion protocol and is allowed to continue. The referee restarts with a bounce-up. Odd decision, that. Odd being a euphemism for garbage. 3:22PM 19 min Foul on the right from Van La Parra helping out Kongolo. He shoves Valencia in the back. Mata bends it in to the far post with his left. Lingard heads it but Lossl blocks. Huddersfield are protesting that it was offside as they spring the trap again. 3:20PM 17 min Decent cross from Hadergjonaj from the right is met by Van La Parra on about the 18 yard line but he is well challenged by Valencia and can't get a clear jump at it. 3:17PM 15 min Poor play from Hadergjonaj, the right back playing centre-mid today. He latches on to a slack pass and then gives it straight back. Possession: Man Utd vs Huddersfield 3:14PM 13 min Mata takes from the right. Huddersfield attempt a suicidal offside trap from a free-kick that leaves Smalling with a clear header at the back post when they mistime the charge. But Smalling mucks up his jump, gets over it, and bludgeons his header into the ground. Best league in the world. 3:13PM 11 min United are moving the ball around quickly, trying to manoeuvre the defence out of position. Valencia has some space ahead and sprints in to it to receive the ball and bomb down the right. Van La Parra, in pursuit, bundles him off the ball. Free kick. 3:10PM 9 min Lingard makes a tremendous, direct run, tacking slightly left on a diagonal as he powers through from halfway to the 18-yard line. He beats Zanka's lettuce-limp challenge and scuds a low left-foot shot that Lossl swoops down swiftly to save neatly. 3:09PM 7 min Mata whips the corner deep from the right and Rojo's header is blocked. United come back at pace up the right and Lukaku turns to spin a cute pass to meet Mata's run but he had gone too soon. Offside. 3:07PM 6 min Lingard steals down the inside-right channel and makes for the byline where he's found by Mata's clever pass. He trips over his own feet and knocks the ball behind. Referee Stuart Atwell gives a corner for a stonebonker goalkick. 3:06PM 4 min United pass the ball around in midfield, looking for a way to probe through Huddersfield's 4-5-1 on this slick pitch. Valencia slips and Huddersfield break through Hadergjonaj who lacks support. If they're going to play on the break they need to go together when they nick possession. 3:04PM 2 min McTominay turns blind and loses possession wantonly in the centre circle. Billing whips it off him but runs up a blind alley. United clear to Schindler who smashes a pass upfield down the left for Depoitre who can't get there before De Gea gathers. 3:03PM 1 min We're off, Depoitre kicks off, rolling the ball to Billing and scooting upfield but Town play it back to Lossl before launching it long. Smalling is first there and plays it back to his keeper. United build more patiently. 2:58PM The teams are out And we will shortly have a minute's commemoration for the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. 2:16PM A special day for David de Gea The 300's up: 3⃣0⃣0⃣ #MUFC appearances for United's no.1⃣ Congrats, @D_DeGea! #DaveSaves �� pic.twitter.com/NCooagOHQW— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:14PM Three changes for Huddersfield TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: #htafc Head Coach David Wagner has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s @premierleague match against @ManUtd at Old Trafford. ➡️ Tommy Smith, @vanlaparra17 and @CollinQuaner ⬅️ @AaronMooy, Chris Löwe and Steve Mounié (AT) pic.twitter.com/6BCJ7iwbUQ— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018 2:13PM The teams are in And Manchster United have dropped Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young. #MUFC's starting line-up for #MUNHUD is in... pic.twitter.com/UTYTd83BCT— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:08PM Good afternoon Tuesday marks 60 years since Feb 6 1958, when the second and greatest of three Manchester United teams built by Matt Busby were flying home from their 3-3 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup quarter-final second leg, a result that put them through to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory. They had stopped to refuel in Munich and made two attempts to take off that were abandoned due to problems with the left engine. Despite snowfall, the captain decided to make a third attempt, hit slush on the runway and the plane crashed through a fence and hit a house. It was the darkest day in the club’s history and in the 73 years of the English professional game. Seven Manchester United players were killed at the scene – Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, David Pegg, Geoff Bent and Tommy Taylor while the magnificent Duncan Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later. Three members of the United staff – Walter Crickmer, Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were mortally wounded and eight journalists travelling with the team – Henry Rose, Donny Davies, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Eric Thompson, George Follows, Alf Clarke and the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper turned News of the World correspondent Frank Swift – lost their lives along with the Manchester United fan Willie Satinoff, travel agent Bela Miklos and two members of the aircraft’s crew, Ken Rayment and Tom Cable. In addition two players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry were so badly injured they never played again The outpouring of grief in a far less tribal age was universal. Thousands of people attended memorials to the Busby Babes, youthful, vibrant, fearless players who appeared both to have the world at their feet and their feet on the ground. They had won the league in 1956 and 1957 playing a brand of athletic, attacking football that remains an imperishable memory for all who were fortunate enough to see a team bristling with vitality and potential and the incomparably powerful Edwards, the swerving and swivelling runs of Eddie ‘Snakehips’ Colman, the lethal finishing of Tommy Taylor and the quick, graceful Roger Byrne. Munich Air disaster memorial progammes at Old Trafford, Manchester Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Jimmy Murphy, the man who nurtured them for Busby, summed up the duty of the survivors best: "I know those lads better than anyone. I found them. I nurtured them. I was there with them every morning, noon and night, piss and rain and gales and snow. They let me mould their lives from the ground up. They repaid me, they repaid this club with their skill, their passion and now their lives. It's not about honouring their memory. It's about showing who we are to the world. Showing we'll not be bowed by tragedy. Because how we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today." Manchester United survived, eventually recovered and prospered but there remains a sorrow at the heart of the club that drives those who love it to pay justice to the eternally poignant memory of their beloved lost lads. Johnny Berry, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, Roger Byrne and Dennis Viollet Credit: Action Images / Mirrorpix Far more prosaically today also marks Huddersfield Town's first visit to Old Trafford since 1972, halcyon days of Joe Gormley, Reginald Maudling, Barry Foster as Piet van der Valk and Frank O'Farrell and Ian Greaves in adjoining dugouts. United won the match 2-0 with goals from E for B and Georgie Best and old double banger himself, Ian Storey- Moore. It's 88 years since Town won their only league game at Old Trafford, a 6-0 thrashing in 1930, four years after the third of their hat-trick of titles for which they will wear the stars on their shirts today. What does this tell us about the prospects of an away victory today? Nish, I'm afraid but then Town's objective prospects, despite winning the home meeting back in October when riding high, high, high. Three draws and four defeats since their last win - over Watford in mid-December - have greased their plummet down to 17th, a point and a place off the bottom three, and their performances against Liverpool and West Ham were worryingly passive and one-paced at times. There's a compelling argument to be made for ditching the 5-3-2 they used against Liverpool and opting not for their default 4-2-3-1 but going for a 4-4-2, sticking Tom Ince in the XI and telling him to run at United's full-backs. Aaron Mooy scores Huddersfield Town's opener in the home 2-1 victory over United last October Credit: Gareth Copley/Getty Images As for Manchester United, whose results have pardoned the performances until the wheels came off at Wembley and Phil Jones, after an impressive run of form, did what Phil Jones usually does after an impressive run of form and had a stinker, a convincing performance is required today. Having signed Alexis Sanchez and started him on the left against Spurs, wouldn't it make more sense to stick him on the right in a 4-3-3 so they could [a] use Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford in their optimum positions and [b] stop wasting Paul Pogba. He was magnificent against Everton in a more advanced role and this square peg-round hole nonsense of Mourinho's is never going to be as effective as playing him in his proper position. Time to compromise. You should read JJ Bull for more analysis: Why can't Jose Mourinho get the most out of Paul Pogba? We'll have team news from 2pm. We know Denis Law will be there to see two clubs he loves, the one that nurtured him and the one that gave him a stage for his magnificence to shine, but I hope Arnie Sidebottom who served both with less distinction but equal dedication is there, too. "C'mon, Arn!"

Manchester United 2 Huddersfield 0: No muzzling Alexis Sanchez as team-mates are brought to heel

There were moments on his Old Trafford debut when Alexis Sanchez looked every bit as impatient with his team-mates as he had done during the bleakest times at Arsenal, and it is this restlessness of spirit that might just breathe some life into Jose Mourinho’s team when they need it the most. After United’s Wembley mauling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, Sanchez scored his first goal for his new club, helped make the other for Romelu Lukaku and generally contributed an afternoon’s work worthy of the highest-paid player in the league. He suffers no fools, and he was resistant to some of the heavier challenges from Huddersfield Town as he probed and scurried around their defensive positions. It is difficult to judge United when they were up against a team that did not have a single attempt on David De Gea’s goal and have now slipped into the bottom three of the division, although the corresponding fixture in October was one of United’s worst defeats of the season. Mourinho dropped Paul Pogba for this game, a decision which he was reluctant to connect with the midfielder’s mediocrity at Wembley, and if it was a punishment it only lasted as long as the second half when the Frenchman came on. Afterwards, Mourinho tried to soften the blow to Pogba by talking up the suitability of his replacement, Scott McTominay, and while the academy boy did have a very solid performance it was hard to ignore the message being sent to the club’s £90 million man. “I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone,” Mourinho said. “Because to punish anyone I also need someone to punish me... we are a team and when we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. “I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and I think this kid has a great desire to recover the ball when the team is not in possession.” Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba celebrate Credit: PA In a moment of classic Mourinho sentimentality, he reflected on the story of McTominay and “the beautiful way a little kid who arrived here with his mum at nine years old for the first training session, 10 or 11 years later the kid is playing in a Manchester United shirt.” Then the United manager took aim at the home fans. Asked to explain a throwaway comment about Old Trafford being a “quiet stadium”, Mourinho made a surprise comparison with the Fratton Park he once knew. “It [Old Trafford] is not Portsmouth,” he said. “I remember Portsmouth when I was in Premier League and such a small stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible and here the atmosphere is a bit quiet and there is not very, very enthusiastic [sic] but the players like to play at home.” This was the day that United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, which falls on Tuesday, and two survivors, Sir Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg, were both at Old Trafford. Arguably not the best moment for supporters to unfurl a “Welcome to Manchester” banner in homage to Sanchez and his two pet dogs in the East Stand, presumably intended to be at the expense of Arsenal who had something similar at the Emirates. It was promptly removed by the stewards. Munich remembered | Charlton and Gregg at Old Trafford For David Wagner, this was a difficult day in which his side held out until half-time but were then opened up down the left when Sanchez won the ball for the move that led to Lukaku’s opening goal. Nemanja Matic played it into Juan Mata in the left channel, and his cross was met first time by United’s Belgian centre-forward, making this a fifth straight league defeat for the visitors. “I don’t like it that we are now in the bottom three but, to be totally honest, it makes it easier,” Wagner said. “We are the ones chasing the others. We don’t have to look over our shoulders. We knew these games against Liverpool and Manchester United would be difficult. Now there are fixtures ahead of us at home where we must create the atmosphere to fight and survive.” He was asked about a first-half moment in which winger Rajiv van La Parra went down, presumed injured, only to leap to his feet when the ball came his way. Naturally it went down badly with the home crowd and Wagner said he could see their point. “They [the players] are human and they make mistakes,” he said. For United, it was two points gained on Manchester City, their lead at the top of the league reduced to a mere 13 points and it was rough going for a while in the first half. Wagner had to replace Philip Billing after half an hour but not before he had clattered his way through a couple of challenges and into the book. Earlier, Terence Kongolo had come in hard to win a header against McTominay, and put the United man on his back without doing any lasting damage. In the second half on came Michael Hefele who was promptly booked and then gave away the penalty. Sanchez was too quick for the German defender on 68 minutes, drawing the foul with his movement. Jonas Lossl did well to block the penalty but pushed it back into the area and Sanchez finished. Terence Kongolo clatters into Scott McTominay Credit: AFP Mourinho later said that Marouane Fellaini could be back by the end of March after “a small [surgical] intervention in his external meniscus [ligament]”. As for Sanchez, he said the Chilean was more than capable of taking the rough challenges. “He is a humble guy who doesn't forget where he started and when he was playing in Chile he had difficult places to play and difficult opponents.” Certainly Old Trafford held no concerns for Sanchez, and it will be the demands he makes of his team-mates, as well as his own performance, that will have an immediate effect. 4:55PM Full time United win by virtue of having players capable of moments of genuine world-class quality - Mata's cross, Lukaku's finish and Sanchez's control and touch to win the penalty. 4:54PM 90+2 min Kongolo makes a well-timed tackle on Sanchez. It has promised far more than it has delivered this match but United will take the points and Huddersfield head back over the Pennines having escaped a shoeing. 4:51PM 89 min Sanchez is sufficiently warmed up now to remove his gloves. Matic sweeps a long pass out to the right where Rashford receives it and plays it in to Pogba who tries to work a quick one-two with Martial. But the first pass wasn't good enough to invite the return. 4:49PM 87 min Lossl belts a clearnace up the right where Shaw gets the better of Qauner to let it go out for a throw-in. 4:48PM 86 min Old Trafford begins to empty as the rain falls hard. 4:46PM 84 min Great defensive work from Valencia on the right who ran ll the way across his own goal to track Ince's run and whipped the cross from Quaner off the winger's foot as he pivoted to shoot. 4:45PM 83 min It's all gone a bit flat with United trying to swazz a goal with style and swagger and Huddersfield holding them at bay. 4:43PM 81 min Terrible cross from Rashford, walloped first time out by the touchline on the right, miles beyond Samchez and into touch. 4:41PM 79 min Fine pass from Rashford to free Valencia down the right but Huddersfield manage to bundle the cross clear. 4:39PM 77 min United make their third sub: Lukaku off, Martial on. 4:38PM 75 min Sanchez spots Pogba's diagonal dart to the near post and clips a pass to feet. Pogba angles his run away from goal to take the ball and tries to flick a first-time shot at goal. Not precise enough. 4:35PM 73 min Valencia glides down the right and sends a Barnes-Wallis bouncing cross into the box. Lukaku gets there first but spoons his half-volley over the bar. Miss: Man Utd 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 72 min) 4:33PM 72 min Rashford comes on to replace Juan Mata. 4:33PM 72 min Here's Lukaku's finish: Lukaku puts Manchester United 1-0 up Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images 4:31PM 70 min Van La Parra off, Tom Ince on. 4:31PM 68 min Mata feeds a short pass to Sanchez on the 18 yard line, dead centre. He shuffles his feet to move it inside and Hefele bundles it over. Sanchez fires the penalty to Lossl's right. The keeper saves low but only succeeds in beating it back to Sanchez who flicks it over the supine keeper. 4:29PM Penalty! Goal! Man Utd 2-0 Huddersfield (Sanchez) 4:28PM 65 min From the free-kick, or the breakdown from it rather, Mata skitters down the left, ignores the cry of Sanchez to play it short and arcs a cross towards the centre of goal where Lukaku meets it and steers it over. 4:26PM 64 min Hefele now joins three colleagues in the book for fouling Sanchez, who was cutting in from the left, 40 yards out. Sanchez stumbled on, trying to find Lukaku but the challenge hit him so high and with such force he couldn't keep his balance. 4:23PM 62 min United substitution: Pogba on for Lingard. 4:23PM 61 min Mooy upends Smalling who was having a gambol upfield on the right. Another mistimed slide tackle. 'Stay on your feet'. 4:21PM 60 min Town substitution: Hefele replaces the hobbling Schindler. 4:21PM 59 min Hogg is yellow-carded unjustly for brushing Lingard as he ran in front of him. 4:20PM 57 min Huddersfield go forward in numbers for the first time after Hadergjonaj's run down the right but they concede possession on the left and United bomb forward but can't make use of the space. 4:17PM 55 min A minute earlier Shaw got round Smith and squared to Lukaku by the penalty spot but Kongolo nipped in. Now Mata whips a cross to the near post and Lukaku meets it with a first-time left-foot hooked volley from eight yards. Great finish. 4:15PM GOAL!! Man Utd 1-0 Huddersfield (Lukaku) Man Utd 1 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 55 min) 4:14PM 52 min Brilliant from Sanchez to win a free-kick when he spins away from Hogg and bullocks forward only for Hogg to knock him flying with a desperate attempted recovery. But when he takes the free-kick, a chip over the top, Lukaku didn't read his mind and the ball hops through tamely to Lossl. 4:12PM 49 min Huddersfield saved twice from corners by flying bodies blocking 20-yard shots from Valencia and Lingard. The pressure is ratcheting up on Huddersfield but they are defending like dervishes. Miss: Man Utd 0 - 0 Huddersfield (Jesse Lingard, 49 min) 4:10PM 47 min Sanchez wriggles free on the left of the box and Smith slides in to block his shot. Lukaku's cute header played him in there and he should have scored. 4:08PM 46 min Here we go again. Manchester United kick off and move it back and to the right. Matic strokes it hither ad thither until he frees McTominay up the right who chips a pass up to Lukaku. He hooks it round the corner for Lingard but it skips away from him. 3:52PM Half time Lots of hustle and bustle, huffing and puffing but Huddersfield's house has stayed upright. 3:51PM 45+2 min Yellow card for Sanchez for a slide tackle on Hadergjonaj. The away fans sing 'What a waste of money' inevitably. 3:49PM 45+1 min Penalty box pinball from the corner ends with United breaking and Van La Parra in diligent pursuit. 3:49PM 44 min Huddersfield break quickly and smoothly. Smith brings it forward up the right, slides a pass up to Quaner who takes it in his stride and stands up a near-post cross for Depoitre. Smalling makes the vital challenge to win the header at the expense of a corner. 3:46PM 42 min Lossl plays sweeper keeper to gather Lingard's throughball straight down the middle for Lukaku. Huddersfield's line is insanely high. Average touch positions (43 min) 3:43PM 40 min United free-kick 30 yards out. Huddersfield line up by the D, dangerously high. Sanchez chips it over the top and this time they do catch Smalling offside. 3:41PM 37 min Sanchez is gesticulating at both Mata and Lingard, the first for passing to the last instead of him having spotted Lingard's run beyond Zanka. Lossl has to come out and leaves his goal empty but manages to catch Lingard's attempted chip from too acute an angle. Sanchez was screaming for the pull back. 3:39PM 36 min Replay of Sanchez's tumble in the box suggest some contact not on his right but his left boot. He held his right foot because Billing trod on it a second after the ball had gone. 3:38PM 34 min Huddersfield kick it out to make a sub - Mooy for Billing - and Sanchez doesn't give them the ball back. They're not impressed but it could have been worse had Lossl not dropped smartly to save Lingard's thumped 20-yard daisycutter. 3:36PM 32 min Depoitre falls heavily when fouled by Rojo as they went for a header. Huddersfield move it from right to left and back into the box but United clear and they make a sharp break. Sanchez runs with it through the centre-circle and accelerates. Van La Parra sticks with him and muscles him off the ball. 3:34PM 31 min Good play from Kongolo to slide in and whip the ball off Valencia into his shins and behind for a goalkick 12 yards out. 3:33PM 29 min It was probably accidental in intent to hurt but was filthy and reckless from Mata. Sanchez goes down clutching his right foot in the box when trying to reach Lingard's knockdown. Looked like a dive. 3:31PM 28 min Sanchez wakes up to smack a devilishly dipping shot as he skipped in from the left to bend it with his right foot from 20 yards. Lossl again saves well but Mata chases the rebound and implants his studs in Schindler's ankles. Yellow card. 'Not that sort of player' etc. 3:29PM 25 min Van La Parra, who was playing the old soldier to claim a foul off Valencia, springs up like Lazarus when the ball is cleared near him to gallop upfield to chase it and take on Valencia. Mourinho goes spare. The ball came to Van La Parra via the very quiet Sanchez's blocked shot. Man Utd vs Huddersfield shots on goal 3:27PM 24 min As Huddersfield try to hustle the ball upfield, Smalling retreats and Billing wipes him out with a sliding challenge that earns him a yellow card. 3:26PM 22 min Mata is in top form today, playing a gorgeous pass down the left that bypasses Schindler and allows Shaw to get round the back and hammer in a low cross that Huddersfield scramble clear. 3:25PM 20 min United should have a penalty - Kongolo clears out McTominay in an aerial challenge, hitting him midair off the ball and knocking the stuffing out of him. He went down like the proverbial sack of spuds. He passes the concussion protocol and is allowed to continue. The referee restarts with a bounce-up. Odd decision, that. Odd being a euphemism for garbage. 3:22PM 19 min Foul on the right from Van La Parra helping out Kongolo. He shoves Valencia in the back. Mata bends it in to the far post with his left. Lingard heads it but Lossl blocks. Huddersfield are protesting that it was offside as they spring the trap again. 3:20PM 17 min Decent cross from Hadergjonaj from the right is met by Van La Parra on about the 18 yard line but he is well challenged by Valencia and can't get a clear jump at it. 3:17PM 15 min Poor play from Hadergjonaj, the right back playing centre-mid today. He latches on to a slack pass and then gives it straight back. Possession: Man Utd vs Huddersfield 3:14PM 13 min Mata takes from the right. Huddersfield attempt a suicidal offside trap from a free-kick that leaves Smalling with a clear header at the back post when they mistime the charge. But Smalling mucks up his jump, gets over it, and bludgeons his header into the ground. Best league in the world. 3:13PM 11 min United are moving the ball around quickly, trying to manoeuvre the defence out of position. Valencia has some space ahead and sprints in to it to receive the ball and bomb down the right. Van La Parra, in pursuit, bundles him off the ball. Free kick. 3:10PM 9 min Lingard makes a tremendous, direct run, tacking slightly left on a diagonal as he powers through from halfway to the 18-yard line. He beats Zanka's lettuce-limp challenge and scuds a low left-foot shot that Lossl swoops down swiftly to save neatly. 3:09PM 7 min Mata whips the corner deep from the right and Rojo's header is blocked. United come back at pace up the right and Lukaku turns to spin a cute pass to meet Mata's run but he had gone too soon. Offside. 3:07PM 6 min Lingard steals down the inside-right channel and makes for the byline where he's found by Mata's clever pass. He trips over his own feet and knocks the ball behind. Referee Stuart Atwell gives a corner for a stonebonker goalkick. 3:06PM 4 min United pass the ball around in midfield, looking for a way to probe through Huddersfield's 4-5-1 on this slick pitch. Valencia slips and Huddersfield break through Hadergjonaj who lacks support. If they're going to play on the break they need to go together when they nick possession. 3:04PM 2 min McTominay turns blind and loses possession wantonly in the centre circle. Billing whips it off him but runs up a blind alley. United clear to Schindler who smashes a pass upfield down the left for Depoitre who can't get there before De Gea gathers. 3:03PM 1 min We're off, Depoitre kicks off, rolling the ball to Billing and scooting upfield but Town play it back to Lossl before launching it long. Smalling is first there and plays it back to his keeper. United build more patiently. 2:58PM The teams are out And we will shortly have a minute's commemoration for the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. 2:16PM A special day for David de Gea The 300's up: 3⃣0⃣0⃣ #MUFC appearances for United's no.1⃣ Congrats, @D_DeGea! #DaveSaves �� pic.twitter.com/NCooagOHQW— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:14PM Three changes for Huddersfield TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: #htafc Head Coach David Wagner has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s @premierleague match against @ManUtd at Old Trafford. ➡️ Tommy Smith, @vanlaparra17 and @CollinQuaner ⬅️ @AaronMooy, Chris Löwe and Steve Mounié (AT) pic.twitter.com/6BCJ7iwbUQ— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018 2:13PM The teams are in And Manchster United have dropped Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young. #MUFC's starting line-up for #MUNHUD is in... pic.twitter.com/UTYTd83BCT— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:08PM Good afternoon Tuesday marks 60 years since Feb 6 1958, when the second and greatest of three Manchester United teams built by Matt Busby were flying home from their 3-3 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup quarter-final second leg, a result that put them through to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory. They had stopped to refuel in Munich and made two attempts to take off that were abandoned due to problems with the left engine. Despite snowfall, the captain decided to make a third attempt, hit slush on the runway and the plane crashed through a fence and hit a house. It was the darkest day in the club’s history and in the 73 years of the English professional game. Seven Manchester United players were killed at the scene – Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, David Pegg, Geoff Bent and Tommy Taylor while the magnificent Duncan Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later. Three members of the United staff – Walter Crickmer, Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were mortally wounded and eight journalists travelling with the team – Henry Rose, Donny Davies, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Eric Thompson, George Follows, Alf Clarke and the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper turned News of the World correspondent Frank Swift – lost their lives along with the Manchester United fan Willie Satinoff, travel agent Bela Miklos and two members of the aircraft’s crew, Ken Rayment and Tom Cable. In addition two players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry were so badly injured they never played again The outpouring of grief in a far less tribal age was universal. Thousands of people attended memorials to the Busby Babes, youthful, vibrant, fearless players who appeared both to have the world at their feet and their feet on the ground. They had won the league in 1956 and 1957 playing a brand of athletic, attacking football that remains an imperishable memory for all who were fortunate enough to see a team bristling with vitality and potential and the incomparably powerful Edwards, the swerving and swivelling runs of Eddie ‘Snakehips’ Colman, the lethal finishing of Tommy Taylor and the quick, graceful Roger Byrne. Munich Air disaster memorial progammes at Old Trafford, Manchester Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Jimmy Murphy, the man who nurtured them for Busby, summed up the duty of the survivors best: "I know those lads better than anyone. I found them. I nurtured them. I was there with them every morning, noon and night, piss and rain and gales and snow. They let me mould their lives from the ground up. They repaid me, they repaid this club with their skill, their passion and now their lives. It's not about honouring their memory. It's about showing who we are to the world. Showing we'll not be bowed by tragedy. Because how we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today." Manchester United survived, eventually recovered and prospered but there remains a sorrow at the heart of the club that drives those who love it to pay justice to the eternally poignant memory of their beloved lost lads. Johnny Berry, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, Roger Byrne and Dennis Viollet Credit: Action Images / Mirrorpix Far more prosaically today also marks Huddersfield Town's first visit to Old Trafford since 1972, halcyon days of Joe Gormley, Reginald Maudling, Barry Foster as Piet van der Valk and Frank O'Farrell and Ian Greaves in adjoining dugouts. United won the match 2-0 with goals from E for B and Georgie Best and old double banger himself, Ian Storey- Moore. It's 88 years since Town won their only league game at Old Trafford, a 6-0 thrashing in 1930, four years after the third of their hat-trick of titles for which they will wear the stars on their shirts today. What does this tell us about the prospects of an away victory today? Nish, I'm afraid but then Town's objective prospects, despite winning the home meeting back in October when riding high, high, high. Three draws and four defeats since their last win - over Watford in mid-December - have greased their plummet down to 17th, a point and a place off the bottom three, and their performances against Liverpool and West Ham were worryingly passive and one-paced at times. There's a compelling argument to be made for ditching the 5-3-2 they used against Liverpool and opting not for their default 4-2-3-1 but going for a 4-4-2, sticking Tom Ince in the XI and telling him to run at United's full-backs. Aaron Mooy scores Huddersfield Town's opener in the home 2-1 victory over United last October Credit: Gareth Copley/Getty Images As for Manchester United, whose results have pardoned the performances until the wheels came off at Wembley and Phil Jones, after an impressive run of form, did what Phil Jones usually does after an impressive run of form and had a stinker, a convincing performance is required today. Having signed Alexis Sanchez and started him on the left against Spurs, wouldn't it make more sense to stick him on the right in a 4-3-3 so they could [a] use Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford in their optimum positions and [b] stop wasting Paul Pogba. He was magnificent against Everton in a more advanced role and this square peg-round hole nonsense of Mourinho's is never going to be as effective as playing him in his proper position. Time to compromise. You should read JJ Bull for more analysis: Why can't Jose Mourinho get the most out of Paul Pogba? We'll have team news from 2pm. We know Denis Law will be there to see two clubs he loves, the one that nurtured him and the one that gave him a stage for his magnificence to shine, but I hope Arnie Sidebottom who served both with less distinction but equal dedication is there, too. "C'mon, Arn!"

Manchester United 2 Huddersfield 0: No muzzling Alexis Sanchez as team-mates are brought to heel

There were moments on his Old Trafford debut when Alexis Sanchez looked every bit as impatient with his team-mates as he had done during the bleakest times at Arsenal, and it is this restlessness of spirit that might just breathe some life into Jose Mourinho’s team when they need it the most. After United’s Wembley mauling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, Sanchez scored his first goal for his new club, helped make the other for Romelu Lukaku and generally contributed an afternoon’s work worthy of the highest-paid player in the league. He suffers no fools, and he was resistant to some of the heavier challenges from Huddersfield Town as he probed and scurried around their defensive positions. It is difficult to judge United when they were up against a team that did not have a single attempt on David De Gea’s goal and have now slipped into the bottom three of the division, although the corresponding fixture in October was one of United’s worst defeats of the season. Mourinho dropped Paul Pogba for this game, a decision which he was reluctant to connect with the midfielder’s mediocrity at Wembley, and if it was a punishment it only lasted as long as the second half when the Frenchman came on. Afterwards, Mourinho tried to soften the blow to Pogba by talking up the suitability of his replacement, Scott McTominay, and while the academy boy did have a very solid performance it was hard to ignore the message being sent to the club’s £90 million man. “I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone,” Mourinho said. “Because to punish anyone I also need someone to punish me... we are a team and when we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. “I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and I think this kid has a great desire to recover the ball when the team is not in possession.” Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba celebrate Credit: PA In a moment of classic Mourinho sentimentality, he reflected on the story of McTominay and “the beautiful way a little kid who arrived here with his mum at nine years old for the first training session, 10 or 11 years later the kid is playing in a Manchester United shirt.” Then the United manager took aim at the home fans. Asked to explain a throwaway comment about Old Trafford being a “quiet stadium”, Mourinho made a surprise comparison with the Fratton Park he once knew. “It [Old Trafford] is not Portsmouth,” he said. “I remember Portsmouth when I was in Premier League and such a small stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible and here the atmosphere is a bit quiet and there is not very, very enthusiastic [sic] but the players like to play at home.” This was the day that United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, which falls on Tuesday, and two survivors, Sir Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg, were both at Old Trafford. Arguably not the best moment for supporters to unfurl a “Welcome to Manchester” banner in homage to Sanchez and his two pet dogs in the East Stand, presumably intended to be at the expense of Arsenal who had something similar at the Emirates. It was promptly removed by the stewards. Munich remembered | Charlton and Gregg at Old Trafford For David Wagner, this was a difficult day in which his side held out until half-time but were then opened up down the left when Sanchez won the ball for the move that led to Lukaku’s opening goal. Nemanja Matic played it into Juan Mata in the left channel, and his cross was met first time by United’s Belgian centre-forward, making this a fifth straight league defeat for the visitors. “I don’t like it that we are now in the bottom three but, to be totally honest, it makes it easier,” Wagner said. “We are the ones chasing the others. We don’t have to look over our shoulders. We knew these games against Liverpool and Manchester United would be difficult. Now there are fixtures ahead of us at home where we must create the atmosphere to fight and survive.” He was asked about a first-half moment in which winger Rajiv van La Parra went down, presumed injured, only to leap to his feet when the ball came his way. Naturally it went down badly with the home crowd and Wagner said he could see their point. “They [the players] are human and they make mistakes,” he said. For United, it was two points gained on Manchester City, their lead at the top of the league reduced to a mere 13 points and it was rough going for a while in the first half. Wagner had to replace Philip Billing after half an hour but not before he had clattered his way through a couple of challenges and into the book. Earlier, Terence Kongolo had come in hard to win a header against McTominay, and put the United man on his back without doing any lasting damage. In the second half on came Michael Hefele who was promptly booked and then gave away the penalty. Sanchez was too quick for the German defender on 68 minutes, drawing the foul with his movement. Jonas Lossl did well to block the penalty but pushed it back into the area and Sanchez finished. Terence Kongolo clatters into Scott McTominay Credit: AFP Mourinho later said that Marouane Fellaini could be back by the end of March after “a small [surgical] intervention in his external meniscus [ligament]”. As for Sanchez, he said the Chilean was more than capable of taking the rough challenges. “He is a humble guy who doesn't forget where he started and when he was playing in Chile he had difficult places to play and difficult opponents.” Certainly Old Trafford held no concerns for Sanchez, and it will be the demands he makes of his team-mates, as well as his own performance, that will have an immediate effect. 4:55PM Full time United win by virtue of having players capable of moments of genuine world-class quality - Mata's cross, Lukaku's finish and Sanchez's control and touch to win the penalty. 4:54PM 90+2 min Kongolo makes a well-timed tackle on Sanchez. It has promised far more than it has delivered this match but United will take the points and Huddersfield head back over the Pennines having escaped a shoeing. 4:51PM 89 min Sanchez is sufficiently warmed up now to remove his gloves. Matic sweeps a long pass out to the right where Rashford receives it and plays it in to Pogba who tries to work a quick one-two with Martial. But the first pass wasn't good enough to invite the return. 4:49PM 87 min Lossl belts a clearnace up the right where Shaw gets the better of Qauner to let it go out for a throw-in. 4:48PM 86 min Old Trafford begins to empty as the rain falls hard. 4:46PM 84 min Great defensive work from Valencia on the right who ran ll the way across his own goal to track Ince's run and whipped the cross from Quaner off the winger's foot as he pivoted to shoot. 4:45PM 83 min It's all gone a bit flat with United trying to swazz a goal with style and swagger and Huddersfield holding them at bay. 4:43PM 81 min Terrible cross from Rashford, walloped first time out by the touchline on the right, miles beyond Samchez and into touch. 4:41PM 79 min Fine pass from Rashford to free Valencia down the right but Huddersfield manage to bundle the cross clear. 4:39PM 77 min United make their third sub: Lukaku off, Martial on. 4:38PM 75 min Sanchez spots Pogba's diagonal dart to the near post and clips a pass to feet. Pogba angles his run away from goal to take the ball and tries to flick a first-time shot at goal. Not precise enough. 4:35PM 73 min Valencia glides down the right and sends a Barnes-Wallis bouncing cross into the box. Lukaku gets there first but spoons his half-volley over the bar. Miss: Man Utd 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 72 min) 4:33PM 72 min Rashford comes on to replace Juan Mata. 4:33PM 72 min Here's Lukaku's finish: Lukaku puts Manchester United 1-0 up Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images 4:31PM 70 min Van La Parra off, Tom Ince on. 4:31PM 68 min Mata feeds a short pass to Sanchez on the 18 yard line, dead centre. He shuffles his feet to move it inside and Hefele bundles it over. Sanchez fires the penalty to Lossl's right. The keeper saves low but only succeeds in beating it back to Sanchez who flicks it over the supine keeper. 4:29PM Penalty! Goal! Man Utd 2-0 Huddersfield (Sanchez) 4:28PM 65 min From the free-kick, or the breakdown from it rather, Mata skitters down the left, ignores the cry of Sanchez to play it short and arcs a cross towards the centre of goal where Lukaku meets it and steers it over. 4:26PM 64 min Hefele now joins three colleagues in the book for fouling Sanchez, who was cutting in from the left, 40 yards out. Sanchez stumbled on, trying to find Lukaku but the challenge hit him so high and with such force he couldn't keep his balance. 4:23PM 62 min United substitution: Pogba on for Lingard. 4:23PM 61 min Mooy upends Smalling who was having a gambol upfield on the right. Another mistimed slide tackle. 'Stay on your feet'. 4:21PM 60 min Town substitution: Hefele replaces the hobbling Schindler. 4:21PM 59 min Hogg is yellow-carded unjustly for brushing Lingard as he ran in front of him. 4:20PM 57 min Huddersfield go forward in numbers for the first time after Hadergjonaj's run down the right but they concede possession on the left and United bomb forward but can't make use of the space. 4:17PM 55 min A minute earlier Shaw got round Smith and squared to Lukaku by the penalty spot but Kongolo nipped in. Now Mata whips a cross to the near post and Lukaku meets it with a first-time left-foot hooked volley from eight yards. Great finish. 4:15PM GOAL!! Man Utd 1-0 Huddersfield (Lukaku) Man Utd 1 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 55 min) 4:14PM 52 min Brilliant from Sanchez to win a free-kick when he spins away from Hogg and bullocks forward only for Hogg to knock him flying with a desperate attempted recovery. But when he takes the free-kick, a chip over the top, Lukaku didn't read his mind and the ball hops through tamely to Lossl. 4:12PM 49 min Huddersfield saved twice from corners by flying bodies blocking 20-yard shots from Valencia and Lingard. The pressure is ratcheting up on Huddersfield but they are defending like dervishes. Miss: Man Utd 0 - 0 Huddersfield (Jesse Lingard, 49 min) 4:10PM 47 min Sanchez wriggles free on the left of the box and Smith slides in to block his shot. Lukaku's cute header played him in there and he should have scored. 4:08PM 46 min Here we go again. Manchester United kick off and move it back and to the right. Matic strokes it hither ad thither until he frees McTominay up the right who chips a pass up to Lukaku. He hooks it round the corner for Lingard but it skips away from him. 3:52PM Half time Lots of hustle and bustle, huffing and puffing but Huddersfield's house has stayed upright. 3:51PM 45+2 min Yellow card for Sanchez for a slide tackle on Hadergjonaj. The away fans sing 'What a waste of money' inevitably. 3:49PM 45+1 min Penalty box pinball from the corner ends with United breaking and Van La Parra in diligent pursuit. 3:49PM 44 min Huddersfield break quickly and smoothly. Smith brings it forward up the right, slides a pass up to Quaner who takes it in his stride and stands up a near-post cross for Depoitre. Smalling makes the vital challenge to win the header at the expense of a corner. 3:46PM 42 min Lossl plays sweeper keeper to gather Lingard's throughball straight down the middle for Lukaku. Huddersfield's line is insanely high. Average touch positions (43 min) 3:43PM 40 min United free-kick 30 yards out. Huddersfield line up by the D, dangerously high. Sanchez chips it over the top and this time they do catch Smalling offside. 3:41PM 37 min Sanchez is gesticulating at both Mata and Lingard, the first for passing to the last instead of him having spotted Lingard's run beyond Zanka. Lossl has to come out and leaves his goal empty but manages to catch Lingard's attempted chip from too acute an angle. Sanchez was screaming for the pull back. 3:39PM 36 min Replay of Sanchez's tumble in the box suggest some contact not on his right but his left boot. He held his right foot because Billing trod on it a second after the ball had gone. 3:38PM 34 min Huddersfield kick it out to make a sub - Mooy for Billing - and Sanchez doesn't give them the ball back. They're not impressed but it could have been worse had Lossl not dropped smartly to save Lingard's thumped 20-yard daisycutter. 3:36PM 32 min Depoitre falls heavily when fouled by Rojo as they went for a header. Huddersfield move it from right to left and back into the box but United clear and they make a sharp break. Sanchez runs with it through the centre-circle and accelerates. Van La Parra sticks with him and muscles him off the ball. 3:34PM 31 min Good play from Kongolo to slide in and whip the ball off Valencia into his shins and behind for a goalkick 12 yards out. 3:33PM 29 min It was probably accidental in intent to hurt but was filthy and reckless from Mata. Sanchez goes down clutching his right foot in the box when trying to reach Lingard's knockdown. Looked like a dive. 3:31PM 28 min Sanchez wakes up to smack a devilishly dipping shot as he skipped in from the left to bend it with his right foot from 20 yards. Lossl again saves well but Mata chases the rebound and implants his studs in Schindler's ankles. Yellow card. 'Not that sort of player' etc. 3:29PM 25 min Van La Parra, who was playing the old soldier to claim a foul off Valencia, springs up like Lazarus when the ball is cleared near him to gallop upfield to chase it and take on Valencia. Mourinho goes spare. The ball came to Van La Parra via the very quiet Sanchez's blocked shot. Man Utd vs Huddersfield shots on goal 3:27PM 24 min As Huddersfield try to hustle the ball upfield, Smalling retreats and Billing wipes him out with a sliding challenge that earns him a yellow card. 3:26PM 22 min Mata is in top form today, playing a gorgeous pass down the left that bypasses Schindler and allows Shaw to get round the back and hammer in a low cross that Huddersfield scramble clear. 3:25PM 20 min United should have a penalty - Kongolo clears out McTominay in an aerial challenge, hitting him midair off the ball and knocking the stuffing out of him. He went down like the proverbial sack of spuds. He passes the concussion protocol and is allowed to continue. The referee restarts with a bounce-up. Odd decision, that. Odd being a euphemism for garbage. 3:22PM 19 min Foul on the right from Van La Parra helping out Kongolo. He shoves Valencia in the back. Mata bends it in to the far post with his left. Lingard heads it but Lossl blocks. Huddersfield are protesting that it was offside as they spring the trap again. 3:20PM 17 min Decent cross from Hadergjonaj from the right is met by Van La Parra on about the 18 yard line but he is well challenged by Valencia and can't get a clear jump at it. 3:17PM 15 min Poor play from Hadergjonaj, the right back playing centre-mid today. He latches on to a slack pass and then gives it straight back. Possession: Man Utd vs Huddersfield 3:14PM 13 min Mata takes from the right. Huddersfield attempt a suicidal offside trap from a free-kick that leaves Smalling with a clear header at the back post when they mistime the charge. But Smalling mucks up his jump, gets over it, and bludgeons his header into the ground. Best league in the world. 3:13PM 11 min United are moving the ball around quickly, trying to manoeuvre the defence out of position. Valencia has some space ahead and sprints in to it to receive the ball and bomb down the right. Van La Parra, in pursuit, bundles him off the ball. Free kick. 3:10PM 9 min Lingard makes a tremendous, direct run, tacking slightly left on a diagonal as he powers through from halfway to the 18-yard line. He beats Zanka's lettuce-limp challenge and scuds a low left-foot shot that Lossl swoops down swiftly to save neatly. 3:09PM 7 min Mata whips the corner deep from the right and Rojo's header is blocked. United come back at pace up the right and Lukaku turns to spin a cute pass to meet Mata's run but he had gone too soon. Offside. 3:07PM 6 min Lingard steals down the inside-right channel and makes for the byline where he's found by Mata's clever pass. He trips over his own feet and knocks the ball behind. Referee Stuart Atwell gives a corner for a stonebonker goalkick. 3:06PM 4 min United pass the ball around in midfield, looking for a way to probe through Huddersfield's 4-5-1 on this slick pitch. Valencia slips and Huddersfield break through Hadergjonaj who lacks support. If they're going to play on the break they need to go together when they nick possession. 3:04PM 2 min McTominay turns blind and loses possession wantonly in the centre circle. Billing whips it off him but runs up a blind alley. United clear to Schindler who smashes a pass upfield down the left for Depoitre who can't get there before De Gea gathers. 3:03PM 1 min We're off, Depoitre kicks off, rolling the ball to Billing and scooting upfield but Town play it back to Lossl before launching it long. Smalling is first there and plays it back to his keeper. United build more patiently. 2:58PM The teams are out And we will shortly have a minute's commemoration for the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. 2:16PM A special day for David de Gea The 300's up: 3⃣0⃣0⃣ #MUFC appearances for United's no.1⃣ Congrats, @D_DeGea! #DaveSaves �� pic.twitter.com/NCooagOHQW— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:14PM Three changes for Huddersfield TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: #htafc Head Coach David Wagner has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s @premierleague match against @ManUtd at Old Trafford. ➡️ Tommy Smith, @vanlaparra17 and @CollinQuaner ⬅️ @AaronMooy, Chris Löwe and Steve Mounié (AT) pic.twitter.com/6BCJ7iwbUQ— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018 2:13PM The teams are in And Manchster United have dropped Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young. #MUFC's starting line-up for #MUNHUD is in... pic.twitter.com/UTYTd83BCT— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:08PM Good afternoon Tuesday marks 60 years since Feb 6 1958, when the second and greatest of three Manchester United teams built by Matt Busby were flying home from their 3-3 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup quarter-final second leg, a result that put them through to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory. They had stopped to refuel in Munich and made two attempts to take off that were abandoned due to problems with the left engine. Despite snowfall, the captain decided to make a third attempt, hit slush on the runway and the plane crashed through a fence and hit a house. It was the darkest day in the club’s history and in the 73 years of the English professional game. Seven Manchester United players were killed at the scene – Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, David Pegg, Geoff Bent and Tommy Taylor while the magnificent Duncan Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later. Three members of the United staff – Walter Crickmer, Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were mortally wounded and eight journalists travelling with the team – Henry Rose, Donny Davies, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Eric Thompson, George Follows, Alf Clarke and the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper turned News of the World correspondent Frank Swift – lost their lives along with the Manchester United fan Willie Satinoff, travel agent Bela Miklos and two members of the aircraft’s crew, Ken Rayment and Tom Cable. In addition two players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry were so badly injured they never played again The outpouring of grief in a far less tribal age was universal. Thousands of people attended memorials to the Busby Babes, youthful, vibrant, fearless players who appeared both to have the world at their feet and their feet on the ground. They had won the league in 1956 and 1957 playing a brand of athletic, attacking football that remains an imperishable memory for all who were fortunate enough to see a team bristling with vitality and potential and the incomparably powerful Edwards, the swerving and swivelling runs of Eddie ‘Snakehips’ Colman, the lethal finishing of Tommy Taylor and the quick, graceful Roger Byrne. Munich Air disaster memorial progammes at Old Trafford, Manchester Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Jimmy Murphy, the man who nurtured them for Busby, summed up the duty of the survivors best: "I know those lads better than anyone. I found them. I nurtured them. I was there with them every morning, noon and night, piss and rain and gales and snow. They let me mould their lives from the ground up. They repaid me, they repaid this club with their skill, their passion and now their lives. It's not about honouring their memory. It's about showing who we are to the world. Showing we'll not be bowed by tragedy. Because how we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today." Manchester United survived, eventually recovered and prospered but there remains a sorrow at the heart of the club that drives those who love it to pay justice to the eternally poignant memory of their beloved lost lads. Johnny Berry, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, Roger Byrne and Dennis Viollet Credit: Action Images / Mirrorpix Far more prosaically today also marks Huddersfield Town's first visit to Old Trafford since 1972, halcyon days of Joe Gormley, Reginald Maudling, Barry Foster as Piet van der Valk and Frank O'Farrell and Ian Greaves in adjoining dugouts. United won the match 2-0 with goals from E for B and Georgie Best and old double banger himself, Ian Storey- Moore. It's 88 years since Town won their only league game at Old Trafford, a 6-0 thrashing in 1930, four years after the third of their hat-trick of titles for which they will wear the stars on their shirts today. What does this tell us about the prospects of an away victory today? Nish, I'm afraid but then Town's objective prospects, despite winning the home meeting back in October when riding high, high, high. Three draws and four defeats since their last win - over Watford in mid-December - have greased their plummet down to 17th, a point and a place off the bottom three, and their performances against Liverpool and West Ham were worryingly passive and one-paced at times. There's a compelling argument to be made for ditching the 5-3-2 they used against Liverpool and opting not for their default 4-2-3-1 but going for a 4-4-2, sticking Tom Ince in the XI and telling him to run at United's full-backs. Aaron Mooy scores Huddersfield Town's opener in the home 2-1 victory over United last October Credit: Gareth Copley/Getty Images As for Manchester United, whose results have pardoned the performances until the wheels came off at Wembley and Phil Jones, after an impressive run of form, did what Phil Jones usually does after an impressive run of form and had a stinker, a convincing performance is required today. Having signed Alexis Sanchez and started him on the left against Spurs, wouldn't it make more sense to stick him on the right in a 4-3-3 so they could [a] use Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford in their optimum positions and [b] stop wasting Paul Pogba. He was magnificent against Everton in a more advanced role and this square peg-round hole nonsense of Mourinho's is never going to be as effective as playing him in his proper position. Time to compromise. You should read JJ Bull for more analysis: Why can't Jose Mourinho get the most out of Paul Pogba? We'll have team news from 2pm. We know Denis Law will be there to see two clubs he loves, the one that nurtured him and the one that gave him a stage for his magnificence to shine, but I hope Arnie Sidebottom who served both with less distinction but equal dedication is there, too. "C'mon, Arn!"

Manchester United 2 Huddersfield 0: No muzzling Alexis Sanchez as team-mates are brought to heel

There were moments on his Old Trafford debut when Alexis Sanchez looked every bit as impatient with his team-mates as he had done during the bleakest times at Arsenal, and it is this restlessness of spirit that might just breathe some life into Jose Mourinho’s team when they need it the most. After United’s Wembley mauling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, Sanchez scored his first goal for his new club, helped make the other for Romelu Lukaku and generally contributed an afternoon’s work worthy of the highest-paid player in the league. He suffers no fools, and he was resistant to some of the heavier challenges from Huddersfield Town as he probed and scurried around their defensive positions. It is difficult to judge United when they were up against a team that did not have a single attempt on David De Gea’s goal and have now slipped into the bottom three of the division, although the corresponding fixture in October was one of United’s worst defeats of the season. Mourinho dropped Paul Pogba for this game, a decision which he was reluctant to connect with the midfielder’s mediocrity at Wembley, and if it was a punishment it only lasted as long as the second half when the Frenchman came on. Afterwards, Mourinho tried to soften the blow to Pogba by talking up the suitability of his replacement, Scott McTominay, and while the academy boy did have a very solid performance it was hard to ignore the message being sent to the club’s £90 million man. “I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone,” Mourinho said. “Because to punish anyone I also need someone to punish me... we are a team and when we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. “I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and I think this kid has a great desire to recover the ball when the team is not in possession.” Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba celebrate Credit: PA In a moment of classic Mourinho sentimentality, he reflected on the story of McTominay and “the beautiful way a little kid who arrived here with his mum at nine years old for the first training session, 10 or 11 years later the kid is playing in a Manchester United shirt.” Then the United manager took aim at the home fans. Asked to explain a throwaway comment about Old Trafford being a “quiet stadium”, Mourinho made a surprise comparison with the Fratton Park he once knew. “It [Old Trafford] is not Portsmouth,” he said. “I remember Portsmouth when I was in Premier League and such a small stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible and here the atmosphere is a bit quiet and there is not very, very enthusiastic [sic] but the players like to play at home.” This was the day that United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, which falls on Tuesday, and two survivors, Sir Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg, were both at Old Trafford. Arguably not the best moment for supporters to unfurl a “Welcome to Manchester” banner in homage to Sanchez and his two pet dogs in the East Stand, presumably intended to be at the expense of Arsenal who had something similar at the Emirates. It was promptly removed by the stewards. Munich remembered | Charlton and Gregg at Old Trafford For David Wagner, this was a difficult day in which his side held out until half-time but were then opened up down the left when Sanchez won the ball for the move that led to Lukaku’s opening goal. Nemanja Matic played it into Juan Mata in the left channel, and his cross was met first time by United’s Belgian centre-forward, making this a fifth straight league defeat for the visitors. “I don’t like it that we are now in the bottom three but, to be totally honest, it makes it easier,” Wagner said. “We are the ones chasing the others. We don’t have to look over our shoulders. We knew these games against Liverpool and Manchester United would be difficult. Now there are fixtures ahead of us at home where we must create the atmosphere to fight and survive.” He was asked about a first-half moment in which winger Rajiv van La Parra went down, presumed injured, only to leap to his feet when the ball came his way. Naturally it went down badly with the home crowd and Wagner said he could see their point. “They [the players] are human and they make mistakes,” he said. For United, it was two points gained on Manchester City, their lead at the top of the league reduced to a mere 13 points and it was rough going for a while in the first half. Wagner had to replace Philip Billing after half an hour but not before he had clattered his way through a couple of challenges and into the book. Earlier, Terence Kongolo had come in hard to win a header against McTominay, and put the United man on his back without doing any lasting damage. In the second half on came Michael Hefele who was promptly booked and then gave away the penalty. Sanchez was too quick for the German defender on 68 minutes, drawing the foul with his movement. Jonas Lossl did well to block the penalty but pushed it back into the area and Sanchez finished. Terence Kongolo clatters into Scott McTominay Credit: AFP Mourinho later said that Marouane Fellaini could be back by the end of March after “a small [surgical] intervention in his external meniscus [ligament]”. As for Sanchez, he said the Chilean was more than capable of taking the rough challenges. “He is a humble guy who doesn't forget where he started and when he was playing in Chile he had difficult places to play and difficult opponents.” Certainly Old Trafford held no concerns for Sanchez, and it will be the demands he makes of his team-mates, as well as his own performance, that will have an immediate effect. 4:55PM Full time United win by virtue of having players capable of moments of genuine world-class quality - Mata's cross, Lukaku's finish and Sanchez's control and touch to win the penalty. 4:54PM 90+2 min Kongolo makes a well-timed tackle on Sanchez. It has promised far more than it has delivered this match but United will take the points and Huddersfield head back over the Pennines having escaped a shoeing. 4:51PM 89 min Sanchez is sufficiently warmed up now to remove his gloves. Matic sweeps a long pass out to the right where Rashford receives it and plays it in to Pogba who tries to work a quick one-two with Martial. But the first pass wasn't good enough to invite the return. 4:49PM 87 min Lossl belts a clearnace up the right where Shaw gets the better of Qauner to let it go out for a throw-in. 4:48PM 86 min Old Trafford begins to empty as the rain falls hard. 4:46PM 84 min Great defensive work from Valencia on the right who ran ll the way across his own goal to track Ince's run and whipped the cross from Quaner off the winger's foot as he pivoted to shoot. 4:45PM 83 min It's all gone a bit flat with United trying to swazz a goal with style and swagger and Huddersfield holding them at bay. 4:43PM 81 min Terrible cross from Rashford, walloped first time out by the touchline on the right, miles beyond Samchez and into touch. 4:41PM 79 min Fine pass from Rashford to free Valencia down the right but Huddersfield manage to bundle the cross clear. 4:39PM 77 min United make their third sub: Lukaku off, Martial on. 4:38PM 75 min Sanchez spots Pogba's diagonal dart to the near post and clips a pass to feet. Pogba angles his run away from goal to take the ball and tries to flick a first-time shot at goal. Not precise enough. 4:35PM 73 min Valencia glides down the right and sends a Barnes-Wallis bouncing cross into the box. Lukaku gets there first but spoons his half-volley over the bar. Miss: Man Utd 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 72 min) 4:33PM 72 min Rashford comes on to replace Juan Mata. 4:33PM 72 min Here's Lukaku's finish: Lukaku puts Manchester United 1-0 up Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images 4:31PM 70 min Van La Parra off, Tom Ince on. 4:31PM 68 min Mata feeds a short pass to Sanchez on the 18 yard line, dead centre. He shuffles his feet to move it inside and Hefele bundles it over. Sanchez fires the penalty to Lossl's right. The keeper saves low but only succeeds in beating it back to Sanchez who flicks it over the supine keeper. 4:29PM Penalty! Goal! Man Utd 2-0 Huddersfield (Sanchez) 4:28PM 65 min From the free-kick, or the breakdown from it rather, Mata skitters down the left, ignores the cry of Sanchez to play it short and arcs a cross towards the centre of goal where Lukaku meets it and steers it over. 4:26PM 64 min Hefele now joins three colleagues in the book for fouling Sanchez, who was cutting in from the left, 40 yards out. Sanchez stumbled on, trying to find Lukaku but the challenge hit him so high and with such force he couldn't keep his balance. 4:23PM 62 min United substitution: Pogba on for Lingard. 4:23PM 61 min Mooy upends Smalling who was having a gambol upfield on the right. Another mistimed slide tackle. 'Stay on your feet'. 4:21PM 60 min Town substitution: Hefele replaces the hobbling Schindler. 4:21PM 59 min Hogg is yellow-carded unjustly for brushing Lingard as he ran in front of him. 4:20PM 57 min Huddersfield go forward in numbers for the first time after Hadergjonaj's run down the right but they concede possession on the left and United bomb forward but can't make use of the space. 4:17PM 55 min A minute earlier Shaw got round Smith and squared to Lukaku by the penalty spot but Kongolo nipped in. Now Mata whips a cross to the near post and Lukaku meets it with a first-time left-foot hooked volley from eight yards. Great finish. 4:15PM GOAL!! Man Utd 1-0 Huddersfield (Lukaku) Man Utd 1 - 0 Huddersfield (Romelu Lukaku, 55 min) 4:14PM 52 min Brilliant from Sanchez to win a free-kick when he spins away from Hogg and bullocks forward only for Hogg to knock him flying with a desperate attempted recovery. But when he takes the free-kick, a chip over the top, Lukaku didn't read his mind and the ball hops through tamely to Lossl. 4:12PM 49 min Huddersfield saved twice from corners by flying bodies blocking 20-yard shots from Valencia and Lingard. The pressure is ratcheting up on Huddersfield but they are defending like dervishes. Miss: Man Utd 0 - 0 Huddersfield (Jesse Lingard, 49 min) 4:10PM 47 min Sanchez wriggles free on the left of the box and Smith slides in to block his shot. Lukaku's cute header played him in there and he should have scored. 4:08PM 46 min Here we go again. Manchester United kick off and move it back and to the right. Matic strokes it hither ad thither until he frees McTominay up the right who chips a pass up to Lukaku. He hooks it round the corner for Lingard but it skips away from him. 3:52PM Half time Lots of hustle and bustle, huffing and puffing but Huddersfield's house has stayed upright. 3:51PM 45+2 min Yellow card for Sanchez for a slide tackle on Hadergjonaj. The away fans sing 'What a waste of money' inevitably. 3:49PM 45+1 min Penalty box pinball from the corner ends with United breaking and Van La Parra in diligent pursuit. 3:49PM 44 min Huddersfield break quickly and smoothly. Smith brings it forward up the right, slides a pass up to Quaner who takes it in his stride and stands up a near-post cross for Depoitre. Smalling makes the vital challenge to win the header at the expense of a corner. 3:46PM 42 min Lossl plays sweeper keeper to gather Lingard's throughball straight down the middle for Lukaku. Huddersfield's line is insanely high. Average touch positions (43 min) 3:43PM 40 min United free-kick 30 yards out. Huddersfield line up by the D, dangerously high. Sanchez chips it over the top and this time they do catch Smalling offside. 3:41PM 37 min Sanchez is gesticulating at both Mata and Lingard, the first for passing to the last instead of him having spotted Lingard's run beyond Zanka. Lossl has to come out and leaves his goal empty but manages to catch Lingard's attempted chip from too acute an angle. Sanchez was screaming for the pull back. 3:39PM 36 min Replay of Sanchez's tumble in the box suggest some contact not on his right but his left boot. He held his right foot because Billing trod on it a second after the ball had gone. 3:38PM 34 min Huddersfield kick it out to make a sub - Mooy for Billing - and Sanchez doesn't give them the ball back. They're not impressed but it could have been worse had Lossl not dropped smartly to save Lingard's thumped 20-yard daisycutter. 3:36PM 32 min Depoitre falls heavily when fouled by Rojo as they went for a header. Huddersfield move it from right to left and back into the box but United clear and they make a sharp break. Sanchez runs with it through the centre-circle and accelerates. Van La Parra sticks with him and muscles him off the ball. 3:34PM 31 min Good play from Kongolo to slide in and whip the ball off Valencia into his shins and behind for a goalkick 12 yards out. 3:33PM 29 min It was probably accidental in intent to hurt but was filthy and reckless from Mata. Sanchez goes down clutching his right foot in the box when trying to reach Lingard's knockdown. Looked like a dive. 3:31PM 28 min Sanchez wakes up to smack a devilishly dipping shot as he skipped in from the left to bend it with his right foot from 20 yards. Lossl again saves well but Mata chases the rebound and implants his studs in Schindler's ankles. Yellow card. 'Not that sort of player' etc. 3:29PM 25 min Van La Parra, who was playing the old soldier to claim a foul off Valencia, springs up like Lazarus when the ball is cleared near him to gallop upfield to chase it and take on Valencia. Mourinho goes spare. The ball came to Van La Parra via the very quiet Sanchez's blocked shot. Man Utd vs Huddersfield shots on goal 3:27PM 24 min As Huddersfield try to hustle the ball upfield, Smalling retreats and Billing wipes him out with a sliding challenge that earns him a yellow card. 3:26PM 22 min Mata is in top form today, playing a gorgeous pass down the left that bypasses Schindler and allows Shaw to get round the back and hammer in a low cross that Huddersfield scramble clear. 3:25PM 20 min United should have a penalty - Kongolo clears out McTominay in an aerial challenge, hitting him midair off the ball and knocking the stuffing out of him. He went down like the proverbial sack of spuds. He passes the concussion protocol and is allowed to continue. The referee restarts with a bounce-up. Odd decision, that. Odd being a euphemism for garbage. 3:22PM 19 min Foul on the right from Van La Parra helping out Kongolo. He shoves Valencia in the back. Mata bends it in to the far post with his left. Lingard heads it but Lossl blocks. Huddersfield are protesting that it was offside as they spring the trap again. 3:20PM 17 min Decent cross from Hadergjonaj from the right is met by Van La Parra on about the 18 yard line but he is well challenged by Valencia and can't get a clear jump at it. 3:17PM 15 min Poor play from Hadergjonaj, the right back playing centre-mid today. He latches on to a slack pass and then gives it straight back. Possession: Man Utd vs Huddersfield 3:14PM 13 min Mata takes from the right. Huddersfield attempt a suicidal offside trap from a free-kick that leaves Smalling with a clear header at the back post when they mistime the charge. But Smalling mucks up his jump, gets over it, and bludgeons his header into the ground. Best league in the world. 3:13PM 11 min United are moving the ball around quickly, trying to manoeuvre the defence out of position. Valencia has some space ahead and sprints in to it to receive the ball and bomb down the right. Van La Parra, in pursuit, bundles him off the ball. Free kick. 3:10PM 9 min Lingard makes a tremendous, direct run, tacking slightly left on a diagonal as he powers through from halfway to the 18-yard line. He beats Zanka's lettuce-limp challenge and scuds a low left-foot shot that Lossl swoops down swiftly to save neatly. 3:09PM 7 min Mata whips the corner deep from the right and Rojo's header is blocked. United come back at pace up the right and Lukaku turns to spin a cute pass to meet Mata's run but he had gone too soon. Offside. 3:07PM 6 min Lingard steals down the inside-right channel and makes for the byline where he's found by Mata's clever pass. He trips over his own feet and knocks the ball behind. Referee Stuart Atwell gives a corner for a stonebonker goalkick. 3:06PM 4 min United pass the ball around in midfield, looking for a way to probe through Huddersfield's 4-5-1 on this slick pitch. Valencia slips and Huddersfield break through Hadergjonaj who lacks support. If they're going to play on the break they need to go together when they nick possession. 3:04PM 2 min McTominay turns blind and loses possession wantonly in the centre circle. Billing whips it off him but runs up a blind alley. United clear to Schindler who smashes a pass upfield down the left for Depoitre who can't get there before De Gea gathers. 3:03PM 1 min We're off, Depoitre kicks off, rolling the ball to Billing and scooting upfield but Town play it back to Lossl before launching it long. Smalling is first there and plays it back to his keeper. United build more patiently. 2:58PM The teams are out And we will shortly have a minute's commemoration for the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. 2:16PM A special day for David de Gea The 300's up: 3⃣0⃣0⃣ #MUFC appearances for United's no.1⃣ Congrats, @D_DeGea! #DaveSaves �� pic.twitter.com/NCooagOHQW— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:14PM Three changes for Huddersfield TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: #htafc Head Coach David Wagner has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s @premierleague match against @ManUtd at Old Trafford. ➡️ Tommy Smith, @vanlaparra17 and @CollinQuaner ⬅️ @AaronMooy, Chris Löwe and Steve Mounié (AT) pic.twitter.com/6BCJ7iwbUQ— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018 2:13PM The teams are in And Manchster United have dropped Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young. #MUFC's starting line-up for #MUNHUD is in... pic.twitter.com/UTYTd83BCT— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018 2:08PM Good afternoon Tuesday marks 60 years since Feb 6 1958, when the second and greatest of three Manchester United teams built by Matt Busby were flying home from their 3-3 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup quarter-final second leg, a result that put them through to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory. They had stopped to refuel in Munich and made two attempts to take off that were abandoned due to problems with the left engine. Despite snowfall, the captain decided to make a third attempt, hit slush on the runway and the plane crashed through a fence and hit a house. It was the darkest day in the club’s history and in the 73 years of the English professional game. Seven Manchester United players were killed at the scene – Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, David Pegg, Geoff Bent and Tommy Taylor while the magnificent Duncan Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later. Three members of the United staff – Walter Crickmer, Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were mortally wounded and eight journalists travelling with the team – Henry Rose, Donny Davies, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Eric Thompson, George Follows, Alf Clarke and the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper turned News of the World correspondent Frank Swift – lost their lives along with the Manchester United fan Willie Satinoff, travel agent Bela Miklos and two members of the aircraft’s crew, Ken Rayment and Tom Cable. In addition two players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry were so badly injured they never played again The outpouring of grief in a far less tribal age was universal. Thousands of people attended memorials to the Busby Babes, youthful, vibrant, fearless players who appeared both to have the world at their feet and their feet on the ground. They had won the league in 1956 and 1957 playing a brand of athletic, attacking football that remains an imperishable memory for all who were fortunate enough to see a team bristling with vitality and potential and the incomparably powerful Edwards, the swerving and swivelling runs of Eddie ‘Snakehips’ Colman, the lethal finishing of Tommy Taylor and the quick, graceful Roger Byrne. Munich Air disaster memorial progammes at Old Trafford, Manchester Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Jimmy Murphy, the man who nurtured them for Busby, summed up the duty of the survivors best: "I know those lads better than anyone. I found them. I nurtured them. I was there with them every morning, noon and night, piss and rain and gales and snow. They let me mould their lives from the ground up. They repaid me, they repaid this club with their skill, their passion and now their lives. It's not about honouring their memory. It's about showing who we are to the world. Showing we'll not be bowed by tragedy. Because how we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today." Manchester United survived, eventually recovered and prospered but there remains a sorrow at the heart of the club that drives those who love it to pay justice to the eternally poignant memory of their beloved lost lads. Johnny Berry, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, Roger Byrne and Dennis Viollet Credit: Action Images / Mirrorpix Far more prosaically today also marks Huddersfield Town's first visit to Old Trafford since 1972, halcyon days of Joe Gormley, Reginald Maudling, Barry Foster as Piet van der Valk and Frank O'Farrell and Ian Greaves in adjoining dugouts. United won the match 2-0 with goals from E for B and Georgie Best and old double banger himself, Ian Storey- Moore. It's 88 years since Town won their only league game at Old Trafford, a 6-0 thrashing in 1930, four years after the third of their hat-trick of titles for which they will wear the stars on their shirts today. What does this tell us about the prospects of an away victory today? Nish, I'm afraid but then Town's objective prospects, despite winning the home meeting back in October when riding high, high, high. Three draws and four defeats since their last win - over Watford in mid-December - have greased their plummet down to 17th, a point and a place off the bottom three, and their performances against Liverpool and West Ham were worryingly passive and one-paced at times. There's a compelling argument to be made for ditching the 5-3-2 they used against Liverpool and opting not for their default 4-2-3-1 but going for a 4-4-2, sticking Tom Ince in the XI and telling him to run at United's full-backs. Aaron Mooy scores Huddersfield Town's opener in the home 2-1 victory over United last October Credit: Gareth Copley/Getty Images As for Manchester United, whose results have pardoned the performances until the wheels came off at Wembley and Phil Jones, after an impressive run of form, did what Phil Jones usually does after an impressive run of form and had a stinker, a convincing performance is required today. Having signed Alexis Sanchez and started him on the left against Spurs, wouldn't it make more sense to stick him on the right in a 4-3-3 so they could [a] use Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford in their optimum positions and [b] stop wasting Paul Pogba. He was magnificent against Everton in a more advanced role and this square peg-round hole nonsense of Mourinho's is never going to be as effective as playing him in his proper position. Time to compromise. You should read JJ Bull for more analysis: Why can't Jose Mourinho get the most out of Paul Pogba? We'll have team news from 2pm. We know Denis Law will be there to see two clubs he loves, the one that nurtured him and the one that gave him a stage for his magnificence to shine, but I hope Arnie Sidebottom who served both with less distinction but equal dedication is there, too. "C'mon, Arn!"

Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' United fans

Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' United fans

Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' United fans

Manchester United beat Huddersfield Town, but Jose Mourinho does not think the home fans made much of a difference.

Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' United fans

Old Trafford is not like Portsmouth - Mourinho has a pop at 'quiet' United fans

Seamus Coleman makes Everton comeback in U23 victory - 'It was great to feel like a footballer again'

Everton right-back Seamus Coleman says he finally feels like a footballer again after ending his injury turmoil and making his comeback on Tuesday night. Coleman played an hour for Everton Under 23s in their Premier League cup tie win over Portsmouth. It was the 29 year-old’s first appearance since suffering a double leg break for the Republic of Ireland against Wales in a World Cup qualifier last March. Now the defender is hoping to force himself into contention for a senior appearance. “I’ve been looking forward to that moment for the last few months, just being able to get the kit on, doing up the shin-pads, rolling my socks up and walking out there,” said Coleman. “It was great to be able to feel like a footballer again – it’s a fantastic feeling. “I knew tackles and things like that were never going to be a bother. That one was more for the few fans that were here that there are no psychological effects. Seamus Coleman in action after injury Credit: GETTY IMAGES “I enjoyed the game. It was great for it to be at Goodison Park – it made it that little bit more special. They tried to change the game when I could be involved and thankfully they have been able to do it. “To be able to walk out the tunnel and see the stadium was great. I managed to get some minutes under my belt and that was fantastic. I treated it like a first-team game and gave it everything.” Much has changed since Coleman’s last Everton appearance, a manager departing and major changes to the squad. Despite the millions in investment, his absence has been felt as much as any for club and country. Ireland were lamenting his absence as they fell just short of qualifying for the World Cup via the play-offs. Sam Allardyce is being careful as to when Coleman is ready to make the next step, anxious to ensure he does not cause a further lay-off by returning too soon. “We will be very cautious in throwing him into the squad,” said the manager. Coleman, however, is itching to get back to Premier League “It’s just a case of going game by game now,” he told Everton’s club website after the 3-0 U23 victory. “For now, it’s get back into training and try to impress the manager by working hard and fingers crossed, it wont be long before I am back out there. “Training has been going great so far. I have enjoyed every second and I am just thankful to be back out there.”

Seamus Coleman makes Everton comeback in U23 victory - 'It was great to feel like a footballer again'

Everton right-back Seamus Coleman says he finally feels like a footballer again after ending his injury turmoil and making his comeback on Tuesday night. Coleman played an hour for Everton Under 23s in their Premier League cup tie win over Portsmouth. It was the 29 year-old’s first appearance since suffering a double leg break for the Republic of Ireland against Wales in a World Cup qualifier last March. Now the defender is hoping to force himself into contention for a senior appearance. “I’ve been looking forward to that moment for the last few months, just being able to get the kit on, doing up the shin-pads, rolling my socks up and walking out there,” said Coleman. “It was great to be able to feel like a footballer again – it’s a fantastic feeling. “I knew tackles and things like that were never going to be a bother. That one was more for the few fans that were here that there are no psychological effects. Seamus Coleman in action after injury Credit: GETTY IMAGES “I enjoyed the game. It was great for it to be at Goodison Park – it made it that little bit more special. They tried to change the game when I could be involved and thankfully they have been able to do it. “To be able to walk out the tunnel and see the stadium was great. I managed to get some minutes under my belt and that was fantastic. I treated it like a first-team game and gave it everything.” Much has changed since Coleman’s last Everton appearance, a manager departing and major changes to the squad. Despite the millions in investment, his absence has been felt as much as any for club and country. Ireland were lamenting his absence as they fell just short of qualifying for the World Cup via the play-offs. Sam Allardyce is being careful as to when Coleman is ready to make the next step, anxious to ensure he does not cause a further lay-off by returning too soon. “We will be very cautious in throwing him into the squad,” said the manager. Coleman, however, is itching to get back to Premier League “It’s just a case of going game by game now,” he told Everton’s club website after the 3-0 U23 victory. “For now, it’s get back into training and try to impress the manager by working hard and fingers crossed, it wont be long before I am back out there. “Training has been going great so far. I have enjoyed every second and I am just thankful to be back out there.”

Chelsea’s willingness to send Charly Musonda on loan for the rest of the season has sparked interest from a host of Premier League clubs. Bournemouth, Watford, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion are all thought to have been alerted to Musonda’s availability. The 21 year-old, who can play in central midfield or out wide, has been given the green light to spend the second half of the season at another English club after Chelsea signed Ross Barkley for £15 million. Musonda hit out at Chelsea on social media in October over his lack of opportunities, having scored in the 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over Nottingham Forest. He has made two substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and also stepped off the bench in Chelsea’s FA Cup draw with Norwich City at the weekend. Having been told he can go on loan, Musonda scored twice for Chelsea’s Under-21s against Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Trophy. Bournemouth, Watford, Newcastle and West Brom are all keen to boost their attacking options this month, with Musonda on their radar. Chelsea have dealt with all four clubs in recent years, but would insist that Musonda is guaranteed playing time wherever he goes. January 2018 transfer window Newcastle have also been in negotiations about signing Kenedy on loan, but Chelsea want a left-sided replacement before sanctioning a deal. Chelsea want to bring in cover for Marcos Alonso, but have stalled on a bid for Alex Sandro over the £60m valuation Juventus have placed on the Brazilian. Similarly, Chelsea will only sanction a loan exit for Michy Batshuayi if they manage to sign a forward this month. Sevilla want Batshuayi, but the Spaniards must wait to see if Chelsea can find somebody who can help out first-choice striker Alvaro Morata. On Batshuayi, Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte said: “He’s a young player, he’s a player who has a good future in front of him. He has to continue to work in this way with commitment, for sure it's not simple to be young to play in a great team like Chelsea. “I’m happy with his commitment, behaviour in training and when he's playing.”

Five Mid-Major Prospects That Should Be on NBA Radars

?It goes without saying by now that every year, NBA draft prospects emerge from unexpected places. It’s why scouts travel to small college towns, why the Portsmouth Invitational exists, and why high school recruiting rankings are never perfect. Identifying players who are off the high major grid but in position to thrive at the next level is part of the fun of evaluation.

The wealth of statistical information available has made parsing through a massive pool of college players and separating the wheat from chaff a little easier. On teams without a wealth of scorers or elite supporting talent, prospects who combine high offensive usage and high efficiency across a range of scoring situations are generally a good place to start. Generally speaking, these are guys who will evolve into NBA role players in their best-case scenarios, and so it’s not only a matter of projecting talent, but also envisioning adaptability and fit. Part of why events like Portsmouth, the draft combine and even summer shoe camps are great evaluation tools that you can take the best guys, remove the context of their team and see what happens.

Equally important is understanding why mid-major star X or surprisingly good player Y ended up in college situation Z. Sometimes it’s a late growth spurt or a high school injury that set back a prospect’s recruitment in the first place. Some guys need to transfer before finding a situation where they can thrive, and sometimes it’s something else entirely. NBA teams are impeccably thorough in gathering this type of contextual data, and it’s helpful when trying to determine what you’re looking at.

If you missed them, we’ve run features on a trio of less-heralded players: Chandler Hutchison (Boise State), Tyler Hall (Montana State) and Jordan Howard (Central Arkansas). As the second half gets underway, here are five mid-major stars drawing serious NBA attention and worth your time.

Alize Johnson | Missouri State | Senior | Forward

Johnson is a late bloomer whose skill level and production have made him a person of interest for NBA teams over the course of the past year. A native of Williamsport, Pa., Johnson was not a D-I qualifier out of high school, which led him to Frank Phillips Community College in Texas. While there, he shot up from 6’5” to 6’9” and retained his guard skills, transforming him into a legitimate point-forward type and placing him squarely in the draft conversation. Johnson averaged a double-double last season as a junior, tested the draft to get feedback and left an impression on scouts while winning MVP at Adidas Nations over the summer.

Through 17 games, Johnson’s production has remained mostly in line with last year, averaging 15.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game to anchor Missouri State. He has eight double-doubles in his last nine games and per KenPom.com, Johnson’s defensive rebound rate (30.1%) is on track to rank Top 10 nationally for a second straight year. He’s adept at grabbing the ball off the glass and pushing in transition, allowing his teammates to run the floor as he initiates. Johnson’s ability to attack the basket in space and make the right pass shines in the open floor, and that’s where much of his intrigue stems from. He’s laterally quick and competes in a low stance on the defensive end, able to switch on the perimeter and defend wings and bigs. That kind of versatility has obvious appeal for teams.

It’s worth noting that Johnson’s shooting percentages have dipped as his offensive responsibility has increased this season. While some of that may be circumstantial, how well he can space the floor long term will be particularly crucial to his success. Having guard skills and being a guard aren’t the same thing, and Johnson may struggle to consistently create his own shot in the halfcourt. He’ll benefit from a situation where he can play alongside quality playmakers and shooters. His overall range of desirable strengths is difficult to find, and will force teams to think long and hard in the middle of the draft.

Kevin Hervey | UT-Arlington | Senior | Forward

Hervey checks all the right boxes when it comes to size and skill, and was on the draft radar last season after winning Sun Belt Player of the Year. That honor came as he continued to shake off the rust from a torn left ACL suffered in January 2016 (to boot, he previously tore the right one in high school). Though his medical situation could prove pertinent down the line, Hervey is in midst of his best season yet, averaging 21.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals over his first 16 games. Assuming 35.4% of his team’s shots while on the floor, he’s shouldered a greater load than ever and continued to efficiently anchor a quality UT-Arlington team. He’s trending the right direction at the right time.

Standing 6’9” with a 7’3” wingspan, Hervey is an excellent rebounder and can match up ably with taller players. He’s a legitimate perimeter threat, shooting 36.1% percent on nearly seven attempts per game this season. Hervey can get to his shot via screens or off the bounce and should be able to space the floor in a stretch-four role. He’s doing damage in a range of ways, finding success off spot-ups (where Synergy puts him in the 90th percentile of scorers nationally), the offensive glass (76th percentile) and cutting into space (87th percentile). Hervey can attack off one or two dribbles around the basket and has also been effectively used as a roll man and post-up threat. It’s a highly unique offensive profile that points to a good chance of adaptability at the NBA level.

There’s some risk Hervey ends up stuck between positions—he doesn’t create much off the dribble, often settles for jumpers and isn’t the most physical player inside. He’s not a great leaper and doesn’t block a ton of shots (just a 2% block rate is a little concerning). It’s worth wondering how much his injury history factors in with those tendencies. There’s certainly enough to Hervey’s game to warrant an opportunity here: while bigs who shoot threes are highly valuable as a specialist archetype, the ones who succeed at the next level tend to be multidimensional. He fits that bill nicely.

Milik Yarbrough | Illinois State | Junior | Forward

Yarbrough went head-to-head with Johnson and Missouri State on Sunday and was terrific in a 72–68 win, tallying 23 points, four assists and four steals. The 6’6” wing has largely been stellar for Illinois State (where his late father starred in the 1970s) after transferring from Saint Louis and sitting out last season. It hasn’t taken long for Yarbrough to emerge as one of the Missouri Valley’s most talented players and a legitimate NBA prospect. He’ll turn 23 in October, and given how impactful he’s been, it will make sense for him to test the draft waters in the spring. Per KenPom data, Yarbrough is one of two players who rank Top Five nationally in usage rate (36.5%) and assist rate (43.5%) and Top 10 in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (8.2), and the other is Trae Young.

With strong physical tools and playmaking ability, Yarbrough has successfully handled that absurd large amount of responsibility for the Redbirds, averaging 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists through 15 games. He’s shown high-level feel for the game and is an outstanding passer, although he can be turnover-prone as a result of the volume of decisions put on his plate. Yarbrough displays creativity attacking off the dribble and uses his body to draw contact and get to the line. He’s a heady defender, with the length and wherewithal to poke the ball loose and be disruptive. NBA teams have been intrigued by his all-around game.

It’s unlikely Yarbrough will be tasked with carrying an offense at the next level, which does raise questions about his eventual role. He does most of his damage with the ball in his hands and has been afforded tons of freedom he may not find again. He’ll have to get used to playing away from the ball, and while his 34.7% clip from three-point range is a small sample, continuing to shoot effectively will be particularly important. Given his physicality, toughness and smarts, Yarbrough will have a chance to succeed as a grinder-style wing who can contribute across the board.

Kendrick Nunn | Oakland | Senior | Guard

Once a coveted recruit out of Chicago where he won four state titles alongside Jabari Parker at Simeon Career Academy, Nunn was a three-year starter at Illinois, where he averaged 15.5 points per game as a junior. He was dismissed from the program in May 2016 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge that stemmed from a domestic violence arrest involving his then-girlfriend. Nunn was handed another chance in the Horizon League at Oakland, where he’s scored 20-plus points in 11 of his first 14 games and 30-plus on six occasions. The quality of his play has put him back on the map as an NBA prospect.

A well-built 6’3” slasher, Nunn leans heavily on a consistent left-handed stroke. He’s shooting 40.8% from outside and attempting double-digit threes per game after making them at a 36% clip or better in all three years at Illinois. He’s taking an absurd amount of Oakland’s shots while on the floor (a 37% rate that puts him in the Top 10 nationally according to KenPom) but has largely been efficient with his opportunities. He’s more of a straight-line driver when attacking the basket, with a strong upper body and some explosiveness off the dribble in space. Nunn’s game has become more perimeter-focused over time, but he can give defenses problems in a variety of areas.

Nunn is also a capable playmaker, with a 26.6% assist rate that’s especially impressive for a player known chiefly as a scorer for most of his career. He’s averaging 4.2 assists per game and has some secondary playmaking potential that helps mitigate the fact he’s undersized to be purely a two-guard. Nunn has the physical tools to cut it defensively when applying his energy, and because he won’t be faced with as hefty an offensive workload as a pro, making an impact on both sides of the ball will be imperative. He’ll turn 23 over the summer and teams will do their background work, but scouts have been impressed by his play and he appears bound for a chance to prove himself.

Mike Daum | South Dakota State | Junior | Forward

A wide-set 6’9” with a reported 7’3” wingspan, Daum combines NBA size with one of the more impressive scoring résumés of any prospect in college basketball. Daum was raised on a farm in Nebraska and learned the game from his mother, who was an All-American player at Wyoming in the 1980s, where his father (who had a brief stint with the Houston Oilers) played tight end. He redshirted on arrival at South Dakota State and has worked hard on his body over the course of the last few years, positioning himself to test and get feedback from teams in the spring.

By now, Daum’s ruthlessly efficient scoring is far from a secret. Averaging 22.7 points and 8.6 rebounds, Daum’s skill level as an inside-out scorer pops. He’s on course for a third straight season in the Top 20 nationally when it comes to usage rate, according to KenPom.com, a third straight season with a true shooting mark of more than 60% and with a three-point clip above 40%. While his efficiency is actually slightly down from last season, the track record holds up well. And to be fair, Daum’s 2016-17 was a truly remarkable campaign: he rated in the 85th percentile or above as a scorer in every single one of Synergy Sports’ offensive play type except for isolation. Good with either hand and dangerous on the block, spotting up and as a screener, Daum hung 31 points on Wichita State and 21 on Kansas this season and should have South Dakota State in position to return to the NCAA tournament.

While Daum’s significant length will help him match up with bigger players, he’s not a shot-blocker by trade. He’s not a great defender and will continue to face scrutiny as a defender and athlete as the NBA game skews smaller and faster at his position. It’s hard to doubt how great he’s been, but his offensive impact may have to outweigh what could amount to a defensive minus regardless of personnel and scheme. If he stays in school, Daum will have the chance to play his final year as a grad transfer, in which case he’d be a hot commodity for high-level programs. Regardless, he may not have much left to prove at the college level.

Football transfer news and rumours: 'Arsene Wenger could be open to selling Alexis Sanchez this month'

As Storm Eleanor batters Britain's coastline, there is a rising tide of transfer speculation to keep us sated before Arsenal's match against Chelsea at the Emirates. Once again, Alexis Sanchez is centre stage with The Mirror reporting Arsene Wenger is softening his stance over the Chilean's future and could be open to a January sale. That would depend on Arsenal procuring a replacement of remotely comparable quality, with Monaco's Thomas Lemar the player they lined up last summer. Wenger said: “We are open in any position for the exceptional player who can give us a plus. “Of course it depends a little bit on the injuries as well and on the other hand I must say it depends on if we manage to extend the contracts of the players who are on the end of their contracts in June. Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal might have to react in the January window Credit: PA “It will depend on that as well because we will have to take the consequences of these decisions and respond to it." Manchester City is Sanchez's preferred destination though Arsenal would rather sell to a foreign club such as Paris Saint-Germain - but they have lost control of the situation with only six months left on his contract. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte described Sanchez as 'one of the best in the world', while John Aldridge used his column in the Irish Independent to urge former club Liverpool to make a 'cheeky' £40 million bid. Perhaps £40 million and one pound would do the trick. Speaking of Liverpool, they too could be preparing for a major departure with The Times reporting Philippe Coutinho believes he has played his last game for Liverpool. Chris Bascombe reported earlier this week that the Anfield club will only sell for an astronomical fee, and it could take an offer in excess of £130 million to make Liverpool budge. David Luiz's future is in his own hands Credit: Getty Images Our own Matt Law reports that Chelsea could be willing to let David Luiz and Michyi Batsuayi leave this month, but only if they have a strong desire to leave Stamford Bridge. Luiz has been demoted in favour of Andreas Christensen, while Michy Batshuayi has never quite gained his trust despite scoring the odd crucial goal from the bench. The Mirror say Chelsea are keen to push through £50 million move for Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, who was their first choice left wing-back target throughout last summer. Completing a move of that stature in January could prove difficult though. Everton's move for Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun is already threatening to drag on, but The Guardian report they hope to wrap up a deal at a meeting on Wednesday. Elsewhere, West Ham retain their interest in Stoke midfielder Joe Allen according to Sky Sports while Spanish newspaper AS report that West Ham, Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton want to sign Atletico Madrid's Nicolas Gaitan. January 2018 transfer window In the Midlands, Championship leaders Wolves could be about to sign Real Madrid target and Valencia forward Rafa Mir according to the Express and Star, while Grzegorz Krychowiak could be free to leave West Brom - so say TalkSPORT. And the rest... Ahead of schedule Jose Mourinho was not supposed to reach this stage until mid-way through next season, but the Daily Mail report that he is walking a fine line with the Manchester United hierarchy after saying their investment in the transfer market was 'not enough. Round of applause for The Burton Albion supporter who gave CPR to one of his fellow fans during their trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and saved his life. Derek Wainwright started a Twitter search for the hero, and 5,000 retweets later he was identified as Rob Wakelin. Bravo, that man. We are looking for a Burton fan that was at Hillsborough yesterday, they did CPR on one of our fans helping to save his life, is it possible to spread the word as the guys family are trying to trace the fan that helped? Any #bafc know who this was? Cheers— Derek Wainwright (@DerekWainwright) January 2, 2018 Blast from the past Man United and PSG have made contact with free agent Lassana Diarra, according to various sources. The former Chelsea, Arsenal, Portsmouth and Real Madrid midfielder was released by UAE side Al Jazira, and reportedly favours a move to Paris. Is it 2018 or 2008?

Football transfer news and rumours: 'Arsene Wenger could be open to selling Alexis Sanchez this month'

As Storm Eleanor batters Britain's coastline, there is a rising tide of transfer speculation to keep us sated before Arsenal's match against Chelsea at the Emirates. Once again, Alexis Sanchez is centre stage with The Mirror reporting Arsene Wenger is softening his stance over the Chilean's future and could be open to a January sale. That would depend on Arsenal procuring a replacement of remotely comparable quality, with Monaco's Thomas Lemar the player they lined up last summer. Wenger said: “We are open in any position for the exceptional player who can give us a plus. “Of course it depends a little bit on the injuries as well and on the other hand I must say it depends on if we manage to extend the contracts of the players who are on the end of their contracts in June. Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal might have to react in the January window Credit: PA “It will depend on that as well because we will have to take the consequences of these decisions and respond to it." Manchester City is Sanchez's preferred destination though Arsenal would rather sell to a foreign club such as Paris Saint-Germain - but they have lost control of the situation with only six months left on his contract. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte described Sanchez as 'one of the best in the world', while John Aldridge used his column in the Irish Independent to urge former club Liverpool to make a 'cheeky' £40 million bid. Perhaps £40 million and one pound would do the trick. Speaking of Liverpool, they too could be preparing for a major departure with The Times reporting Philippe Coutinho believes he has played his last game for Liverpool. Chris Bascombe reported earlier this week that the Anfield club will only sell for an astronomical fee, and it could take an offer in excess of £130 million to make Liverpool budge. David Luiz's future is in his own hands Credit: Getty Images Our own Matt Law reports that Chelsea could be willing to let David Luiz and Michyi Batsuayi leave this month, but only if they have a strong desire to leave Stamford Bridge. Luiz has been demoted in favour of Andreas Christensen, while Michy Batshuayi has never quite gained his trust despite scoring the odd crucial goal from the bench. The Mirror say Chelsea are keen to push through £50 million move for Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, who was their first choice left wing-back target throughout last summer. Completing a move of that stature in January could prove difficult though. Everton's move for Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun is already threatening to drag on, but The Guardian report they hope to wrap up a deal at a meeting on Wednesday. Elsewhere, West Ham retain their interest in Stoke midfielder Joe Allen according to Sky Sports while Spanish newspaper AS report that West Ham, Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton want to sign Atletico Madrid's Nicolas Gaitan. January 2018 transfer window In the Midlands, Championship leaders Wolves could be about to sign Real Madrid target and Valencia forward Rafa Mir according to the Express and Star, while Grzegorz Krychowiak could be free to leave West Brom - so say TalkSPORT. And the rest... Ahead of schedule Jose Mourinho was not supposed to reach this stage until mid-way through next season, but the Daily Mail report that he is walking a fine line with the Manchester United hierarchy after saying their investment in the transfer market was 'not enough. Round of applause for The Burton Albion supporter who gave CPR to one of his fellow fans during their trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and saved his life. Derek Wainwright started a Twitter search for the hero, and 5,000 retweets later he was identified as Rob Wakelin. Bravo, that man. We are looking for a Burton fan that was at Hillsborough yesterday, they did CPR on one of our fans helping to save his life, is it possible to spread the word as the guys family are trying to trace the fan that helped? Any #bafc know who this was? Cheers— Derek Wainwright (@DerekWainwright) January 2, 2018 Blast from the past Man United and PSG have made contact with free agent Lassana Diarra, according to various sources. The former Chelsea, Arsenal, Portsmouth and Real Madrid midfielder was released by UAE side Al Jazira, and reportedly favours a move to Paris. Is it 2018 or 2008?

Football transfer news and rumours: 'Arsene Wenger could be open to selling Alexis Sanchez this month'

As Storm Eleanor batters Britain's coastline, there is a rising tide of transfer speculation to keep us sated before Arsenal's match against Chelsea at the Emirates. Once again, Alexis Sanchez is centre stage with The Mirror reporting Arsene Wenger is softening his stance over the Chilean's future and could be open to a January sale. That would depend on Arsenal procuring a replacement of remotely comparable quality, with Monaco's Thomas Lemar the player they lined up last summer. Wenger said: “We are open in any position for the exceptional player who can give us a plus. “Of course it depends a little bit on the injuries as well and on the other hand I must say it depends on if we manage to extend the contracts of the players who are on the end of their contracts in June. Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal might have to react in the January window Credit: PA “It will depend on that as well because we will have to take the consequences of these decisions and respond to it." Manchester City is Sanchez's preferred destination though Arsenal would rather sell to a foreign club such as Paris Saint-Germain - but they have lost control of the situation with only six months left on his contract. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte described Sanchez as 'one of the best in the world', while John Aldridge used his column in the Irish Independent to urge former club Liverpool to make a 'cheeky' £40 million bid. Perhaps £40 million and one pound would do the trick. Speaking of Liverpool, they too could be preparing for a major departure with The Times reporting Philippe Coutinho believes he has played his last game for Liverpool. Chris Bascombe reported earlier this week that the Anfield club will only sell for an astronomical fee, and it could take an offer in excess of £130 million to make Liverpool budge. David Luiz's future is in his own hands Credit: Getty Images Our own Matt Law reports that Chelsea could be willing to let David Luiz and Michyi Batsuayi leave this month, but only if they have a strong desire to leave Stamford Bridge. Luiz has been demoted in favour of Andreas Christensen, while Michy Batshuayi has never quite gained his trust despite scoring the odd crucial goal from the bench. The Mirror say Chelsea are keen to push through £50 million move for Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, who was their first choice left wing-back target throughout last summer. Completing a move of that stature in January could prove difficult though. Everton's move for Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun is already threatening to drag on, but The Guardian report they hope to wrap up a deal at a meeting on Wednesday. Elsewhere, West Ham retain their interest in Stoke midfielder Joe Allen according to Sky Sports while Spanish newspaper AS report that West Ham, Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton want to sign Atletico Madrid's Nicolas Gaitan. January 2018 transfer window In the Midlands, Championship leaders Wolves could be about to sign Real Madrid target and Valencia forward Rafa Mir according to the Express and Star, while Grzegorz Krychowiak could be free to leave West Brom - so say TalkSPORT. And the rest... Ahead of schedule Jose Mourinho was not supposed to reach this stage until mid-way through next season, but the Daily Mail report that he is walking a fine line with the Manchester United hierarchy after saying their investment in the transfer market was 'not enough. Round of applause for The Burton Albion supporter who gave CPR to one of his fellow fans during their trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and saved his life. Derek Wainwright started a Twitter search for the hero, and 5,000 retweets later he was identified as Rob Wakelin. Bravo, that man. We are looking for a Burton fan that was at Hillsborough yesterday, they did CPR on one of our fans helping to save his life, is it possible to spread the word as the guys family are trying to trace the fan that helped? Any #bafc know who this was? Cheers— Derek Wainwright (@DerekWainwright) January 2, 2018 Blast from the past Man United and PSG have made contact with free agent Lassana Diarra, according to various sources. The former Chelsea, Arsenal, Portsmouth and Real Madrid midfielder was released by UAE side Al Jazira, and reportedly favours a move to Paris. Is it 2018 or 2008?

Charlton seek a little bit of history repeated as Karl Robinson aims to tap into fan power amid owner turmoil

Twenty-five years ago this week, Charlton Athletic returned to The Valley, after a depressing seven-year exile of nomadic ground-sharing, to beat Portsmouth 1-0 in the First Division amid a joyous party atmosphere. On Saturday, in one of those little quirks, they face Portsmouth again. It should be nothing but a cause for celebration, a celebration of what Charlton manager Karl Robinson calls one of the most “iconic moments in football history... what they did 25 years ago, I don’t think that will happen again”. It was, Robinson notes, a testimony to “what fan power can actually do”. For many Charlton supporters that comment touches a raw nerve given the controversial, unhappy ownership of the club by Belgian businessman Roland Duchatelet, who they are still trying to force out. Charlton struggled to recover from Premier League relegation in 2007 but the way the club has been run under Duchatelet has alienated many fans, even if on the field it has improved since Robinson became the eighth manager in three years in November 2016. “When I went into the club I knew how hard it was going to be,” Robinson says. “So I just tried to be me, stick to being the coach and say what I felt.” Karl Robinson (left) argues with Neil Ardley, manager of AFC Wimbledon Credit: GETTY IMAGES That included meeting fans “over a few pints” and navigating the line between hearing their concerns, being respectful of his employer and trying to turn the club around. Charlton are sixth in League One, in the play-off places, and clearly a return to the Championship is a priority. There has been a Robinson resurgence. But there remains an essential sadness that a club that has represented so much in terms of supporter power and a proud, fierce community spirit is in this way. The protest group CARD - the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet – is working hard for change, although they may be disappointed to hear that Robinson does not think a takeover is imminent. “I think it can be distracting but I have been told that’s not the case and have to take that on face value,” Robinson says. “Listen, I do my job the best I can. I don’t get involved in the politics. It (the dissent) is not as loud but I don’t think it’s quietened down in terms of how people feel about it. I think CARD brought something out a month ago saying they respect what we are trying to do on the pitch and that, for us, was a tremendous testament. Charlton fans protest against owner Roland Duchatelet Credit: GETTY IMAGES “Whether they are part of CARD or not they are still fans and we just hope that one day we can come together and be a much stronger club. I don’t know what makes that happen. We just hope that we can put ourselves in a place where we are all one.” It cannot happen under Duchatelet. Robinson’s concerns are on the pitch but he is well aware of the importance of the Portsmouth match. “Our main objective is to get promoted but there are certain moments where people see the bigger picture and at every football club that is the fans, what they stand for and what they have been through,” he says. “Fundamentally, I want to make people proud of being a Charlton Athletic fan and when they look back at what they did, they should be so proud of themselves.” Food for thought over Newcastle takeover Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley talked over her proposed takeover of Newcastle United at a London curry house on Wednesday night. As you do. That will give Newcastle fans heart, given the fear that the two parties remain so far apart in their valuation. But there is plenty of food for thought. The fear is the effect this is all having, not least with the growing realisation that if a deal is agreed it will not go through until after the January transfer window closes. Hopefully an outline deal can be secured before then because the club desperately needs a kick-start with new signings after an unhappy summer transfer period. Newcastle are in a dangerous limbo. They have two vital home games in five days: on Saturday they face a revitalised Leicester City, then they host Everton, led by former manager Sam Allardyce. A glance at the table shows how precariously they are pitched. They are 15th, five points outside the relegation places, but are on the slide having lost five of their last six matches, and won once in 10. Not so long ago they were over-achieving, now, while they talk, they are in danger of going under. Wilshere needs more game time Jack Wilshere started the week with an ice skating controversy after being photographed on a rink - not a good thing with his glass ankles – and then helped Arsenal glide past BATE Borisov in the Europa League. He even scored. Cue fresh debate over an England recall. But England do not play again until March. If Wilshere actually starts a Premier League game before then there may be an argument. “You could see he is ready,” Arsene Wenger said afterwards, having recently, unhelpfully, urged Gareth Southgate to pick Wilshere for England. So hopefully Wenger will now play him rather than talk about playing him. Wilshere is brilliantly talented, the best of his generation, but has just 65 minutes in the league so far this season. There is no argument. Awesome foursome Ahead of the Merseyside derby, Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane have already scored 46 goals between them in all competitions this season. What is even more remarkable, though, is the frequency of goals the quartet score when they are on the pitch together: one every 23 minutes. Not ideal prep, Pep Manchester City flew to Ukraine on Monday for their Champions League tie away to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and stayed until Thursday afternoon. Given it was a ‘dead rubber’, given there is the Manchester derby this Sunday and given it was freezing cold, it did not feel like ideal preparation for such a big match.

Charlton seek a little bit of history repeated as Karl Robinson aims to tap into fan power amid owner turmoil

Twenty-five years ago this week, Charlton Athletic returned to The Valley, after a depressing seven-year exile of nomadic ground-sharing, to beat Portsmouth 1-0 in the First Division amid a joyous party atmosphere. On Saturday, in one of those little quirks, they face Portsmouth again. It should be nothing but a cause for celebration, a celebration of what Charlton manager Karl Robinson calls one of the most “iconic moments in football history... what they did 25 years ago, I don’t think that will happen again”. It was, Robinson notes, a testimony to “what fan power can actually do”. For many Charlton supporters that comment touches a raw nerve given the controversial, unhappy ownership of the club by Belgian businessman Roland Duchatelet, who they are still trying to force out. Charlton struggled to recover from Premier League relegation in 2007 but the way the club has been run under Duchatelet has alienated many fans, even if on the field it has improved since Robinson became the eighth manager in three years in November 2016. “When I went into the club I knew how hard it was going to be,” Robinson says. “So I just tried to be me, stick to being the coach and say what I felt.” Karl Robinson (left) argues with Neil Ardley, manager of AFC Wimbledon Credit: GETTY IMAGES That included meeting fans “over a few pints” and navigating the line between hearing their concerns, being respectful of his employer and trying to turn the club around. Charlton are sixth in League One, in the play-off places, and clearly a return to the Championship is a priority. There has been a Robinson resurgence. But there remains an essential sadness that a club that has represented so much in terms of supporter power and a proud, fierce community spirit is in this way. The protest group CARD - the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet – is working hard for change, although they may be disappointed to hear that Robinson does not think a takeover is imminent. “I think it can be distracting but I have been told that’s not the case and have to take that on face value,” Robinson says. “Listen, I do my job the best I can. I don’t get involved in the politics. It (the dissent) is not as loud but I don’t think it’s quietened down in terms of how people feel about it. I think CARD brought something out a month ago saying they respect what we are trying to do on the pitch and that, for us, was a tremendous testament. Charlton fans protest against owner Roland Duchatelet Credit: GETTY IMAGES “Whether they are part of CARD or not they are still fans and we just hope that one day we can come together and be a much stronger club. I don’t know what makes that happen. We just hope that we can put ourselves in a place where we are all one.” It cannot happen under Duchatelet. Robinson’s concerns are on the pitch but he is well aware of the importance of the Portsmouth match. “Our main objective is to get promoted but there are certain moments where people see the bigger picture and at every football club that is the fans, what they stand for and what they have been through,” he says. “Fundamentally, I want to make people proud of being a Charlton Athletic fan and when they look back at what they did, they should be so proud of themselves.” Food for thought over Newcastle takeover Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley talked over her proposed takeover of Newcastle United at a London curry house on Wednesday night. As you do. That will give Newcastle fans heart, given the fear that the two parties remain so far apart in their valuation. But there is plenty of food for thought. The fear is the effect this is all having, not least with the growing realisation that if a deal is agreed it will not go through until after the January transfer window closes. Hopefully an outline deal can be secured before then because the club desperately needs a kick-start with new signings after an unhappy summer transfer period. Newcastle are in a dangerous limbo. They have two vital home games in five days: on Saturday they face a revitalised Leicester City, then they host Everton, led by former manager Sam Allardyce. A glance at the table shows how precariously they are pitched. They are 15th, five points outside the relegation places, but are on the slide having lost five of their last six matches, and won once in 10. Not so long ago they were over-achieving, now, while they talk, they are in danger of going under. Wilshere needs more game time Jack Wilshere started the week with an ice skating controversy after being photographed on a rink - not a good thing with his glass ankles – and then helped Arsenal glide past BATE Borisov in the Europa League. He even scored. Cue fresh debate over an England recall. But England do not play again until March. If Wilshere actually starts a Premier League game before then there may be an argument. “You could see he is ready,” Arsene Wenger said afterwards, having recently, unhelpfully, urged Gareth Southgate to pick Wilshere for England. So hopefully Wenger will now play him rather than talk about playing him. Wilshere is brilliantly talented, the best of his generation, but has just 65 minutes in the league so far this season. There is no argument. Awesome foursome Ahead of the Merseyside derby, Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane have already scored 46 goals between them in all competitions this season. What is even more remarkable, though, is the frequency of goals the quartet score when they are on the pitch together: one every 23 minutes. Not ideal prep, Pep Manchester City flew to Ukraine on Monday for their Champions League tie away to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and stayed until Thursday afternoon. Given it was a ‘dead rubber’, given there is the Manchester derby this Sunday and given it was freezing cold, it did not feel like ideal preparation for such a big match.